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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ring | /rɪŋ/ | to make a clear bell sound | The phone will ring soon. | |
| Rise | /raɪz/ | To move upwards | The balloon rose into the sky. | |
| Roast | /roʊst/ | To cook food in an oven or over a fire | We had roast beef for dinner. | |
| rob | /rɑb/ | take money or property by force | Two men tried to rob the store at night. | |
| rock | /rɑk/ | to move gently back and forth | She rocked the baby to sleep. | |
| Roll | /roʊl/ | To move somewhere by turning over and over or from side to side | The ball rolled under the table. | |
| round | /raʊnd/ | to make something curved or whole | She rounded the corners with sandpaper. | |
| Rub | /rʌb/ | To press or be pressed against something | He rubbed his hands together. | |
| rule | /ruːl/ | to control or govern | The queen ruled the country for many years. | |
| run | /rʌn/ | to move fast on foot | Run in the park. | |
| running | /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ | moving quickly on foot | He is running to catch the bus. | |
| runs | /rʌnz/ | moves quickly on foot | She runs every morning before breakfast. | |
| Rush | /rʌʃ/ | To go or do something very quickly | Don't rush me. | |
| said | /sɛd/ | past form of "say" | She said hello to me. | |
| Sail | /seɪl/ | To travel on water in a ship or boat | We plan to sail across the lake. | |
| sale | /seɪl/ | to sell | They sale handmade goods online. | |
| sample | /ˈsæmpəl/ | to try a small amount | Visitors can sample the local cheese. | |
| sat | /sæt/ | past of sit | He sat by the window all morning. | |
| Satisfy | /ˈsætɪsfaɪ/ | To please someone by giving them what they want | The meal satisfied me. | |
| Save | /seɪv/ | To keep something especially money for use in the future | I am saving money to buy a car. | |
| saved | /seɪvd/ | kept something for future use | He saved enough money to buy a bike. | |
| say | /seɪ/ | to speak words | Say hello. | |
| says | /sɛz/ | speaks or tells something. | My teacher says the test is easy. | |
| Scan | /skæn/ | To look through a text quickly | I scanned the document. | |
| Scare | /skɛr/ | To make someone feel frightened | The loud noise scared me. |
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.
