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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| expand | /ɪkˈspænd/ | to become larger or increase | The company hopes to expand into new markets. | |
| Expect | /ɪkˈspɛkt/ | To think or believe something will happen | I expect it will rain tomorrow. | |
| expected | /ɪkˈspɛktɪd/ | thought something would happen | We expected rain in the afternoon. | |
| Explain | /ɪkˈspleɪn/ | To make something clear or easy to understand | Can you explain how this machine works? | |
| explained | /ɪkˈspleɪnd/ | made something clear by giving details | The teacher explained the homework carefully. | |
| Explore | /ɪkˈsplɔr/ | To search and discover about something | We want to explore the city. | |
| Export | /ˈɛkspɔrt/ | To send goods to another country | They export cars to Europe. | |
| express | /ɪkˈsprɛs/ | to show or say a thought | She expressed her concerns clearly. | |
| expressed | /ɪkˈsprɛst/ | showed or stated a thought or feeling | He expressed his opinion clearly during the meeting. | |
| eye | /aɪ/ | to look at closely | He eyed the cake on the table. | |
| face | /feɪs/ | deal with or confront something | We must face the problem together. | |
| Fail | /feɪl/ | To not succeed in what you are trying to achieve or are expected to do | I failed my driving test. | |
| failed | /feɪld/ | did not succeed | The plan failed because costs were too high. | |
| Fall | /fɔl/ | To go down suddenly | Don't fall! | |
| Fasten | /ˈfæsən/ | To become firmly closed or fixed | Please fasten your seatbelts. | |
| favorite | /ˈfeɪvərɪt/ | to mark something for quick access | I favorited the article to read later. | |
| feature | /ˈfitʃər/ | to include as an important part | The exhibit features local artists. | |
| featured | /ˈfitʃərd/ | was included as an important part | The article featured a local artist. | |
| featuring | /ˈfiː.tʃɚ.ɪŋ/ | including someone or something as an important part | The show is featuring several young artists. | |
| Feed | /fiːd/ | To give food to a person, group, or animal | Don't forget to feed the cat. | |
| Feel | /fiːl/ | To experience something physical or emotional | I feel sick. | |
| Fetch | /fɛtʃ/ | To go to another place to get something or someone and bring it, him, or her back | Could you fetch my glasses from the kitchen? | |
| Fight | /faɪt/ | To use physical force to try to defeat another person or group of people | The boys were fighting in the schoolyard. | |
| figure | /ˈfɪɡjər/ | calculate or understand something | We need to figure the total cost first. | |
| file | /faɪl/ | to officially submit a document | They filed the report yesterday. |
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.
