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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waste | /weɪst/ | To use carelessly | Do not waste water. | |
| Watch | /wɑtʃ/ | To look at something for a period of time | We watch TV in the evening. | |
| water | /ˈwɔtɚ/ | to pour water on plants | Please water the flowers tonight. | |
| wave | /weɪv/ | to move your hand to say hello | Wave your hand. | |
| wear | /wɛr/ | to have clothes on your body | Wear a coat. | |
| wed | /wɛd/ | to marry | They plan to wed in June. | |
| Weigh | /weɪ/ | To find out how heavy something is | I need to weigh the package. | |
| Welcome | /ˈwɛlkəm/ | To greet someone arriving | Welcome to our home. | |
| went | /wɛnt/ | past of go | We went to the park after lunch. | |
| were | /wɝː/ | past form of "are" and "is" | They were late for class. | |
| Will | /wɪl/ | Used to talk about the future | I will call you tomorrow. | |
| Win | /wɪn/ | To achieve first position in a competition | I hope our team will win. | |
| Wish | /wɪʃ/ | To want something to happen | I wish you a happy birthday. | |
| won | /wʌn/ | past tense of win | Our team won the final game by two points. | |
| Wonder | /ˈwʌndər/ | To ask yourself questions or express a wish to know about something | I wonder where he is. | |
| Work | /wɜrk/ | To do a job | I work in a bank. | |
| working | /ˈwɝkɪŋ/ | doing a job or task | He is working from home this week. | |
| works | /wɝks/ | does its job correctly. | My old phone still works well. | |
| Worry | /ˈwɜri/ | To think about problems | Don't worry, be happy. | |
| Would | /wʊd/ | Used to talk about a possible situation | I would like a cup of tea. | |
| Wrap | /ræp/ | To cover something with paper or cloth | Can you wrap this gift for me? | |
| write | /raɪt/ | to make letters on paper | Write your name. | |
| wrote | /roʊt/ | put words on paper or screen | She wrote a letter to her friend. | |
| Yield | /jiːld/ | To supply or produce something positive such as a profit, an amount of food or information | The experiment yielded interesting results. | |
| zip | /zɪp/ | to move quickly or fasten with a zipper | She zipped her jacket before going outside. |
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.
