999 Action Verbs(and some tips on how to find the right one)

Roxane Rix

An action is a movement of the will; it is often expressed through physical activity, but activity alone does not an action make. Example: “To put the book on the table” is merely activity; “to slam the book on the table” is activity transformed into physical action by grounding it in an action: in this example, an aggressive action (“to attack” perhaps, or “to accuse”). I.e.: activity + action = physical action.

A strong action expresses vividly an emotional state, but does not call upon the actor to “play” emotions. An action is expressed as a verb: “to_____,” not as “to be_____.” Example: “To be sad” is vague, reductive of the complexities of human interaction, and encourages the actor to try to summon an emotion on cue; “to mourn” is specific and playable, as are “to grieve” or “to lament.”

A strong action expresses subtext and encourages interesting, specific choices. Example: “to inquire” is general and weak; “to probe,” “to harass” or “to finagle” are strong forms of inquiry which reflect character, circumstances and/or relationship.

Actions are analogous to directions of physical movement. In relating to others, we may have the impulse to move toward them or away from them, and position ourselves below (submissive to) or above (superior to) them. We may move obliquely—side to side—or plant ourselves firmly in one spot. Though we may not always express the action literally through the direction of physical movement, recognizing the directional impulse is an excellent first step toward finding the strongest action. Therefore, most of the 999 action verbs included here are classified as follows:

Action Classification Direction of Movementaggress toward and aboveapproach toward and belowreject away and aboveretreat away and belowavoid side to sidestand ground planted

More rarely, actions may express emotional and intellectual processes, which generally don’t have consistent direction of movement. Some acting theorists entirely reject such actions for use on stage; as this writer is not among them, these are included as a separate category. However, it is certain that the strongest actions are usually in relation to others; emotional and intellectual processes should be considered as a last possibility rather than a first choice.

Classifications are a convenient starting point in finding the right action, but many actions may fall into more than one category. Example: “to ridicule” is usually a rejection but may be used as an attack; “to entertain” is usually an approach but may sometimes be an avoidance. Since no actions on the attached list appear twice, it is advised to consider the other possibilities when searching for the right ones.

Finally, the list of 999 Action Verbs is intended as a resource and a stimulus to imagination; it is by no means exhaustive!

AGGRESS

abuse battle contend fabricate irritate pose terrorizeaccost beat contest face jab pounce thrashadmonish bedevil contradict fluster jolt preempt threatenadvance belabor counter foil jostle press thrustaffront berate counter-attack forbid jump prick thwartaggravate besiege crack down force lash prod toppleagitate blast cross-examine frighten lecture provoke tossalarm bludgeon crowd gall libel pulverize toughenambush bluff curse goad loom over puncture tousleanger blurt crush grapple madden push trampleannihilate bluster damn grill manipulate rankle transcendannoy boast dare gripe menace rap traumatizeantagonize bombard debate grouse misdirect rattle trespassappall boss defeat halt mislead rebut triumphapprehend bother defend hammer molest reprimand trompappropriate brag defy harangue muster repudiate trounceargue brave delay harass nag repulse tusslearise buck demand harm nail retort twistarm bug demolish harp at negate rip tyrannizearouse bully demoralize hassle needle scare undercutarrest bushwhack destroy hate object scold undermineassail capture devour heckle obstruct scorch unmaskassault castrate dictate hinder offend shatter unnerveassert censor discipline hiss oppose snap unsettleastonish challenge disgrace hound oppress snarl upbraidattack charge dispute hustle order spar usurpattest chase disrupt impose oust squelch vanquishavenge chastise dog incite outshine stab vexaver checkmate dominate incriminate outwit stalk victimizeavow chide dress down inflame overcome startle vieawaken claim drill infringe on overpower stifle vindicateax clamp down drive infuriate override sting wallopbackbite claw dupe inject overrule stop warnbadger clobber egg on injure overrun strafe weaselbad-mouth coerce emphasize inspect overshadow straightarm whackbaffle command enrage insult overthrow strike wheedlebait compel entrap interfere overwhelm stun whitewashbamboozle compete erupt interrogate persist stupefy whoreban complain escalate interrupt petrify subjugate winbanish confront evict intimidate pierce subvert witherbar connive explode intrude put surmount woundbarge conquer exploit invade plunder surpass wranglebark conspire expose investigate poke swagger wrestle

irk police terrify zap

APPROACH

absolve bubble delve galvanize introduce pamper snoopaccept burble dicker gibe invest pander to snuggleacclaim buttonhole disarm give invigorate pardon socializeaccommodate cajole disclose glamorize invite penetrate softsoapacknowledge calm dissuade glorify involve perform solicitacquaint campaign divulge gossip jest persuade sootheadapt canonize dote gratify join petition steeradminister captivate dramatize greet joke pitch strengthenadmire caress ease guide justify pity subdueadore caution electrify gush kibitz plead suffocateadvertise champion embrace haggle kid please suggestadvise charm enchant hail laud pledge supplicateadvocate chat encircle hasten lavish preach supportaffirm chatter encourage hawk lead preside surpriseaid cheer endear help lean on prime suspectamuse cherish endorse hint leer prize swearannounce clasp enfold hold forth level with probe sympathizeanoint cleave to engage honor liberate profess tantalizeappeal cling engross hook lift prompt temptappease clown engulf hover love propose tendapplaud coax enjoy humor lure protect testifyapprove coddle enlighten hypnotize lust after pry thankassist collaborate enrapture idealize massage psychoanalyze tickleassuage comfort entertain imitate meddle puff tiptoeassure commend enthrall implant mediate pull titillateattend commit entice implore milk pump toastaward compare entreat imply mirror pursue touchbaby compromise envelope impress mollify ratify toutback con exaggerate include moralize ravish trailbanter confide exalt infatuate motivate recommend transportbare congratulate excite infect mystify recruit treatbargain conjure excuse inflate negotiate rectify tugbarter console exhort influence nestle regale tweakbecalm consult explore ingratiate notice relieve unarmbeckon convince extol initiate nourish remind unburdenbedazzle coo eye insist nudge repay unifybeg cooperate fall for inspire nurse rescue unveilbeseech corroborate finagle instigate nurture reveal upliftbewitch counsel flatter instill oblige revere validatebless cradle flirt instruct offer romanticize volunteerbolster crave follow intercede open up to rouse vouchboost crusade fondle interest orate scintillate vow

bribe cuddle forgive intervene ordain scrutinize welcomebrighten dazzle fortify interview overpraise seduce whetbroach declaim foster intoxicate overprotect serve worshipbroadcast delight free intrigue overrate smother

STAND GROUND

abide ball up endure hold out restrain suppress withholdabsorb brace freeze reconcile stand pat temper withstandabstain clam up gird resist stand ground tolerateawait cope hold to resolve stipulate weather

REJECT

abandon chafe deprecate disdain fool malign recoilabolish condemn deride disillusion forsake mimic rejectabominate condescend desert dismiss gloat minimize relegateabrade criticize despise disobey harden mistrust repelalienate debase detest disown humiliate mock resentape decline detract disparage ignore mortify ridback out decry diminish distance impugn neglect scoffbalk defame disapprove distrust insinuate obfuscate severbegrudge deflate disavow doubt intimate ostracize slashbelittle degrade discard eject invalidate patronize smearbesmirch deign discharge embarrass jeer persecute smirkbetray demean disclaim envy jilt plot sniffburn denigrate discount exclude judge prohibit snortbury deny discourage finger knock rake over tauntcastigate deplore discredit flaunt leave rebel welsh

RETREAT

abscond backpedal cop out escape intellectualize resign whimperaccede bemoan cower fall back lag retract whineacquiesce budge crack fall flat melt retreat wiltadmit capitulate crawl fear obey scramble winceallow cease creep flee pacify settle withdrawapologize collapse cringe flinch permit succumb yieldassimilate comply crumble forfeit quit tattle shrinkatone concede defer give in recede thaw shrugback away condone drop back give out regret tire simperback down conform drop out give up relent tremble submitback off consent elude hide relinquish weary

AVOID

avert dillydally fake fumble rationalize swerve waveravoid distract feign grope shift sulk wrigglebabble divert fiddle hedge shudder teeter yammerblock digress fidget hem shuffle totter

conceal dodge flail hesitate sidestep twitterdally duck flounder pout squirm vacillatedawdle equivocate fluctuate quibble stammer waffledeflect evade forestall ramble straddle wander

EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL PROCESSES

agonize celebrate droop fume mourn reckon sweatanalyze consider effervesce fuss mull over reflect swoonanguish comprehend effuse gauge muse rejoice tightenanticipate compute enthuse grieve palpitate reminisce toilbask crow envisage grumble panic revel wallowbeam daydream expect hallucinate plan rhapsodize weighbereave deduce exult hope plumb ruminate wishbridle deliberate fantasize hunger ponder seethe wonderbristle despair figure imagine pray sizzle worrybrood discover foresee infer pretend smolder yearnbrowse dissect fret lament puzzle stewcarouse dream fritter languish radiate suffercavort dread frolic long realize surmise