Action Verbs
If you’re unable to find your handout with a list of action verbs, click here or peruse this website and look for a strong verb for your character. Remember: On stage, you cannot play a feeling or “be” or an emotion—you must commit to an action.
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A
absolve accept accost accuse activate address admit admonish advertise advise affirm alarm allure alter amuse animate annihilate announce annoy antagonize anticipate apologize appeal approve argue arouse assault atone avow awaken B
badger bait balance bang barter bash bathe bawl out beat beckon bedazzle befriend befuddle beg beguile belittle bemoan bend berate betray bewitch bicker bind bite blab blackmail blame blast bless block blow blurt boast bombard boost bop bounce brag break bribe brood bruise bump bury butter buy C
cajole calm captivate capture caress carry carve castrate catch celebrate chain challenge change charm chase chastise cheer chew chide chill chip choke chop circle circumvent clarify cling clip coax codify coerce coil comfort command commandeer compare compliment compress concede conclude concoct condemn condescend confess confide confirm confiscate confront conjure connect conquer consider console conspire contest contradict consume control convert convince cool corrupt cover covet crack cradle cram crank crave criticize crucify crumple crush cuddle curse cut D
dab damn dare dazzle debase deceive declare decline decorate dedicate defend deflate defy degrade demand demean demonstrate demote denounce deny depress destabilize destroy detain devalue devastate devour dicker dig disapprove disarm disclaim disclose discover dismiss disown dispute disrobe dissect distract dodge dominate drag draw blood draw out drive E
ease edify elate eliminate elude embarrass embrace emphasize employ empower emulsify enchant encourage energize enfeeble enfold engage engulf enlighten enlist enslave ensnare entangle entertain enthrall enthuse entice eradicate evade eviscerate exalt examine exasperate excite exclaim exclude explode explore expose F
fan fantasize fascinate feed flatten flatter flick flirt fondle forbid force forgive fortify foster freak out freeze fret frighten frolic G
gag galvanize gaslight gauge gloat gloss gnaw goad gossip gouge grab grasp gratify grieve grill grind grip grope guide guilt H
hack haggle hammer hang harass hassle heal hint hit hold hope hug humiliate humor hypnotize I
ignite ignore illuminate immerse impel implode implore impress incite indulge inflame inflate infuse inquire insist inspect inspire instill instruct insult interlock interrogate intimidate intoxicate intrigue invigorate invite invoke involve iron irritate J
jab jeer jerk joke jolt josh judge juice justify K
keep kick kill kindle kiss knot L
lampoon lash lather lead lecture let level lick lift lighten list loosen-up lull lure M
manipulate marshal mash mask massage masticate melt menace mess with mimic mislead mock mold mope mother motivate mount mourn move mystify N
nag nail nauseate needle negotiate nibble nip nourish nudge nurse nurture O
obliterate obscure offer oil open oppress order ostracize overrun overthrow overwhelm P
pacify paddle parry pat patronize paw peck penetrate perforate perk up permit persuade pet petrify pick pierce pinch pine placate plan play plead please pluck poison poke polish ponder pop possess pounce pound praise pray prepare prescribe press prey prick prime probe proclaim prod prohibit promise prompt propose protect protest provoke psyche-up pull pup punch punish purge pursue push Q
qualify quell question R
rank rape rationalize realize ream reason reassure recall recover refuse refute regret rehash reiterate reject relax relent relieve remember remind renounce repent repress reprimand reprove retreat reveal revel rib ride ridicule rip rob rock roll rouse rub S
sap savor scar scare scatter scheme scold scratch screw scrutinize search seduce seize sell serenade serve shackle shake shame shed shine shock shove shut slap slash slaughter slice slug smarten smash smear smile smooth smother smush sub soak soften soil soothe split spoil squash squeeze stab stall stamp state steer stick stimulate stir stomp stoop stop storm strangle strengthen strike strip stroke subdue submit subvert succor succumb suffocate summon support suppress surmount surrender suspect swallow swing T
tangle tantalize tap taste tattle taunt teach tear tease tempt terrify test thank threaten throw tickle tiptoe titillate tolerate torment toss touch toy trade train trample transcend trap trick trip turn twirl twist U
unbend unburden uncover undress unite uplift urge V
vamp validate vent veto violate vow W
wail wait wake warn warp wash weigh wheedle whip whisper wiggle win wind-up withhold woo worship wrestle wring X
x-ray (?) (Because to ‘xylophone’ isn’t a word!) Y
yank yearn yield Z
zap zing |
