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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| breaks | /breɪks/ | damages something so it stops working | He often breaks his glasses when he plays soccer. | |
| Breathe | /briːð/ | To take air into and out of your lungs | It's hard to breathe in this smoke. | |
| Bring | /brɪŋ/ | To take something to a place | Bring your books to class. | |
| bringing | /ˈbrɪŋɪŋ/ | carrying or taking something with you | She is bringing dessert to the party. | |
| brings | /brɪŋz/ | carries or causes to come | She always brings snacks to the meeting. | |
| Broadcast | /ˈbrɔdˌkæst/ | To send out a programme on television or radio | The match will be broadcast live. | |
| browse | /braʊz/ | to look around casually | We browse the books before buying one. | |
| budget | /ˈbʌdʒɪt/ | to plan spending carefully | We need to budget for travel costs. | |
| Build | /bɪld/ | To make something like a house | They build new houses here. | |
| building | /ˈbɪldɪŋ/ | making something by putting parts together | They are building a new bridge downtown. | |
| built | /bɪlt/ | made something by putting parts together | My grandfather built this table. | |
| Burn | /bɜrn/ | To be hurt or damaged by fire or heat | Be careful not to burn yourself. | |
| Burst | /bɜrst/ | To break open or apart suddenly | The balloon burst. | |
| Bury | /ˈbɛri/ | To put a dead body into the ground | The dog buried the bone. | |
| button | /ˈbʌtən/ | to fasten with buttons | Button your coat before going outside. | |
| Buy | /baɪ/ | To get something with money | I want to buy a car. | |
| Calculate | /ˈkælkjʊˌleɪt/ | To discover an amount or number using mathematics | Calculate the total cost. | |
| Call | /kɔl/ | To phone someone | Call me later. | |
| called | /kɔld/ | named in a particular way. | The dog is called Max. | |
| came | /keɪm/ | moved to this place | My friend came to my house yesterday. | |
| Camp | /kæmp/ | To stay in a tent for a short time | We like to camp in the mountains during summer. | |
| Can | /kæn/ | To be able to do something | I can speak two languages. | |
| Cancel | /ˈkænsl/ | To decide that an organized event will not happen | They had to cancel the flight. | |
| Capture | /ˈkæpʧər/ | To take someone as a prisoner | The police captured the thief. | |
| Care | /kɛr/ | To feel interested in something or worried about it | I don't care what they think. |
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.
