Verbs are the heartbeat of any conversation — you need them to share a story, ask a question, or just order your favorite coffee. This list rounds up around 1,000 common English verbs that you’ll actually hear and use every day. No dusty textbook filler, just action words that keep your sentences moving. Put these common verbs to work while reading Hansel and Gretel at A2 level.
Inside the interactive table, you’ll get US IPA for clear pronunciation, a plain-English meaning, and a real-world example sentence. There’s also a play button next to every word, so you can listen as you learn — your ears need practice too.
Ready to level up your everyday English without the yawns? Scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable common english verbs vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable common english verbs flashcards.
Verbs alone won’t make you fluent, though. You need chunks you can actually speak. Our free English lessons teach you practical phrases with audio and speaking practice — start at the intro page or jump straight into Lesson 1: First Greetings.
Quick Quiz
<p>Think you already know a bunch of these? Try the quick quiz below to test yourself, then use the table to plug any gaps.</p>
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Browse the Full List
| Word | IPA | Meaning | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| displayed | /dɪˈspleɪd/ | showed something for people to see | The artist displayed her paintings in the town hall. | |
| displays | /dɪˈspleɪz/ | shows something for people to see | The screen displays the time and date. | |
| Distinguish | /dɪsˈtɪŋɡwɪʃ/ | To notice or understand the difference between two things, or to make one person or thing seem different from another | It's important to distinguish between fact and fiction. | |
| Distribute | /dɪsˈtrɪbjuːt/ | To give something out to several people, or to spread or supply something | The charity distributed food to the homeless. | |
| distributed | /dɪˈstrɪbjətɪd/ | shared out or delivered to many places | The food was distributed to families in need. | |
| Dive | /daɪv/ | To jump into water | He likes to dive into the swimming pool. | |
| Divide | /dɪˈvaɪd/ | To separate into parts | Divide the cake into four pieces. | |
| do | /duː/ | perform an action | I do my homework after dinner. | |
| document | /ˈdɑkjəˌmɛnt/ | record details with written evidence | Researchers document every step carefully. | |
| does | /dʌz/ | third person form of "do" | He does his work every day. | |
| doing | /ˈduːɪŋ/ | performing an action | She is doing her homework now. | |
| Dominate | /ˈdɑməˌneɪt/ | To have control over a place or person | The strong team dominated the game. | |
| donate | /ˈdoʊneɪt/ | give money or goods to help others | Many people donate clothes in winter. | |
| double | /ˈdʌbəl/ | become twice as much | Profits could double next year. | |
| Download | /ˈdaʊnˌloʊd/ | To copy data from the internet to a computer | I'm downloading a new game. | |
| Drag | /dræɡ/ | To pull something along the ground | Don't drag that heavy box. | |
| draw | /drɔ/ | to make a picture with a pen | Draw a house. | |
| drink | /drɪŋk/ | to take liquid into the body | Drink your milk. | |
| Drive | /draɪv/ | To control a car | Can you drive a car? | |
| drives | /draɪvz/ | controls and moves a car | My sister drives to work every morning. | |
| Drop | /drɑp/ | To let something fall | Be careful not to drop the glass. | |
| Dump | /dʌmp/ | To put down or drop something in a careless way | He dumped his bag on the bed. | |
| Earn | /ɜrn/ | To get money for doing work | She earns a good salary. | |
| eat | /it/ | to put food in your mouth | Eat your apple. | |
| Edit | /ˈɛdɪt/ | To make changes to text or data | I need to edit this video before posting it. |
Free Common English Verbs PDF and Flashcards to Download
Grab the purple vocab-list button to download the common english verbs vocabulary list, and use the teal flashcards button for the common english verbs flashcards. Both are 100% free with no signup required.
