The Ultimate Action Verbs List for Teachers [Free PDF Download]

If you’ve been hunting for a truly helpful action verbs list for your students, this might be your new favorite resource. I’ve been teaching long enough to know that having one spot where all your action verbs are organized — movement verbs, sports verbs, tech verbs, weather verbs — is basically teacher gold.

When you are teaching action verbs, it always helps to connect them with other grammar skills your learners need. If your students are also working on irregular forms, you can pair this action verbs list with the full ESL list of irregular verbs to help them see how verbs change in the past tense. It’s a perfect next step once students are confident using basic action words in sentences.

So today, I’m sharing my master action verbs list with over 200 action verbs you can use in lesson plans, ESL classes, writing centers, grammar activities, role-play games, and any literacy block that needs a little boost. And yes, there’s a free PDF download you can grab for your classroom.

Let’s dive in!

What Are Action Verbs?

Action verbs are the doing words. They tell what someone does, moves, creates, plays, builds, or interacts with. They’re the backbone of early writing, speaking, and understanding sentence structure — and honestly, kids LOVE them because they’re easy to act out and even easier to use in real-life examples.

You can also support emerging writers by introducing the list of regular verbs pdf as a follow up. This works beautifully after students practice the action verbs list because they already understand how verbs function in sentences. It gives them an easy way to expand their vocabulary and strengthen early grammar.

When your students learn action verbs, they suddenly understand stories better, follow instructions more confidently, and build stronger sentences. That’s why having a solid action verbs list is such a game-changer for teachers and ESL instructors.

Why Teachers Need a Strong Action Verbs List

If you’ve ever tried to get students writing independently, you already know:

verbs matter.

A clear, organized action verbs list helps your learners:

Build complete sentences

Improve reading comprehension

Develop writing fluency

Understand vocabulary in context

Strengthen their ESL speaking skills

Participate in hands-on movement activities

Plus, it gives you a go-to list for anchor charts, flashcards, morning warm-ups, centers, task cards, and verb sorting games.

Movement-Based Action Verbs for Students

These physical action verbs are perfect for kindergarten, first grade, ESL beginners, and especially your wiggle-heavy students who LOVE acting things out.

For beginners who still mix up subjects in their writing, your action verb activities can easily tie into the personal pronoun worksheets. Once students learn who is doing the action, matching the right pronoun becomes much clearer. It creates a smooth connection between vocabulary and grammar practice.

100 Physical Action Verbs

walk
jump
run
hop
skip
crawl
climb
slide
roll
kneel
sit
stand
bend
stretch
squat
twist
turn
spin
shake
nod
kick
hit
pull
push
lift
drop
throw
catch
carry
hold
open
close
cut
chop
slice
stir
mix
pour
bake
boil
fry
grill
peel
mash
crack
knead
roll
blend
whisk
spread
draw
paint
write
erase
fold
tear
stick
glue
tape
swipe
clap
wave
point
reach
grab
release
press
punch
kick again
bounce
drive
ride
pedal
steer
park
load
unload
climb up
climb down
march
sweep
mop
wash
scrub
wipe
clean
dig
rake
shovel
plant
swim
dive
float
paddle
row
surf
skate
ski
snowboard
balance

Technology Action Verbs for Digital Literacy

With kids using iPads, Chromebooks, laptops, and classroom devices more than ever, tech vocabulary is a must. This section of the action verbs list focuses on digital literacy — and trust me, ESL students benefit from this SO much.

If you want to extend your grammar block even further, this action verbs list pairs well with the adjective chart easy craft. After kids describe what someone does with verbs, they can describe what someone or something is like with adjectives. It’s a fun way to help students build richer, more complete sentences.

60 Tech Verbs

click
tap

type
swipe
scroll
search
download
upload
save
delete
text
call
charge
record
print
connect
log in
update
reboot
restart
install
uninstall
sync
scan
stream
pause
play
edit
copy
paste
browse
zoom in
zoom out
bookmark
attach
share
reply
forward
send
open (file)
close (file)
drag
drop (a file)
rename
organize
backup
restore
sync again
encrypt
decrypt
scan (QR)
mute
unmute
screenshot
highlight
select
filter
subscribe
follow
Save as

Sports & Exercise Action Verbs

These verbs are perfect for PE classes, ESL units, and any activity where kids need to describe their physical actions during games, sports, and movement breaks.

60 Sports Verbs

walk
jump

run
jog
sprint
hike
swim
dive
float
paddle
row
surf
kick
throw
catch
hit
strike
shoot
pass
dribble
bounce
toss
bowl
serve
lift (weights)
squat
lunge
plank
stretch
bend
climb
crawl
balance
tumble
roll
flip
skate
ski
snowboard
cycle
jog in place
skip
wrestle
box
punch
defend
tackle
block
warm up
cool down
breathe
pace
race
compete
swing (bat)
swing (golf)
aim
jump rope
step
march

Weather & Natural Forces Action Verbs

One of my favorite sections of the action verbs list, because ESL students LOVE weather words — and they usually pick them up quickly.

60 Weather Verbs

• rain

• snow

• hail

• frost

• freeze

• melt

• blow (wind)

• drift

• swirl

• gust

• howl

• whistle

• thunder

• boom

• crack (thunder)

• rumble

• roar

• flash (lightning)

• strike (lightning)

• spark

• blaze

• burn

• smoke

• smolder

• erupt (volcano)

• explode

• spew

• shake (earthquake)

• tremble

• rattle

• flood

• overflow

• rise (water)

• surge

• crash (waves)

• splash

• pour (rain)

• drizzle

• sprinkle

• mist

• fog

• evaporate

• brighten (sky)

• darken (sky)

• clear (sky)

• cloud over

• gather (clouds)

• disperse (clouds)

• freeze over

• defrost

• thaw

• settle (snow)

• accumulate

• drift (snow)

• blow away

• wash away

• erode

• collapse

• shift

• settle (dust)

Classroom Activities to Teach Action Verbs

Here are a few teacher-friendly ideas to help your students internalize your action verbs list:

⭐ Charades With Action Verbs

Students act out a verb, the class guesses, everyone laughs — the end.

⭐ Action Verb Sorting Mats

Kids sort verbs by categories: movement, sports, cooking, tech, weather.

⭐ Sentence Builders

Give students 5–6 action verbs and let them build silly sentences.

⭐ Roll & Read Verb Dice

Write verbs on a cube — whatever they roll, they must act, say, or write.

⭐ Verb Anchor Charts

Display the action verbs list on your classroom wall for daily reference.

❓ FAQs on Teaching Action Verbs

How do you teach action verbs in an ESL classroom?

Start with gestures and movement verbs. Add visuals, then simple sentences.

What is the difference between action verbs and linking verbs?

Action verbs show movement or activity. Linking verbs connect ideas but don’t show action.

Can I use action verbs in science or PE lessons?

YES! Weather verbs, sports verbs, and movement verbs are perfect cross-curricular vocabulary.

A strong action verbs list makes writing easier, ESL lessons smoother, and vocabulary activities way more fun. Whether your students are brand new English learners, early writers, or just need more descriptive words, action verbs are the perfect place to start.

👉 Download the full 200 Action Verbs List PDF and add it to your teaching toolbox — it’ll save you time all year long.

Download the 200 Action Verbs List PDF

Want everything in one place? I’ve created a classroom-friendly 200+ action verbs list PDF you can download and print instantly.

It includes:

• Movement verbs

• Tech verbs

• Sports verbs

• Weather verbs

• Everyday actions

• Visual icons

• Kid-friendly examples

Perfect for ESL lessons, writing workshops, grammar review days, and your literacy wall.