Improve Your Vocabulary: Verbs
There are many words that can be used instead of 'run'. Image: Frans Schouwenburg / CC BY-NC 4.0
Strong, descriptive verbs are precise and concrete. They make your writing more concise and help you avoid vague descriptions. They create a visual impression and can help create a mood for the scene you're trying to describe. By contrast, there are many other, much weaker verbs that are often abstract and generic and only carry a basic meaning. They don't help you visualise a scene or experience a feeling of movement, thus appearing rather bland in comparison. Unfortunately, we often tend to overuse these verbs.
Take a look at the following example:
Mary ran across the street.
This sentence is grammatically correct, but it contains the verb 'to run'. This verb adds little detail to how she ran across the street. In the following sentences, more description is added just by changing the verb:
Mary darted across the street.
Mary scurried across the street.
Mary charged across the street.
Mary jogged across the street.
Here is a list of five very common verbs that you probably use a lot. Take a look at the alternative verbs; many of these are much stronger and far more descriptive.
| Weak verb | Strong verbs |
|---|---|
| walk | stroll, trudge, amble, saunter, march, stride, troop, wander, hike, prowl, plod, ramble, ... |
| eat | consume, devour, ingest, chew, munch, gobble, swallow, chomp, feast, dine, ... |
| see | glance, admire, glimpse, spy, examine, peek, spot, sight, view, observe, notice, identify, ... |
| run | sprint, race, dart, rush, dash, hasten, scurry, scamper, bolt, charge, jog, hare, gallop, ... |
| say | speak, utter, voice, pronounce, mumble, scream, whisper, shout, plead, remark, ... |
Very often, first drafts are full of weak verbs that will make your writing limp and listless. As you start going through your draft, pay special attention to the verbs that you have been using. Use a thesaurus actively in your writing process – always look for the words with the most precise meaning.
We have only shown you a few examples of weak verbs that could be replaced by stronger verbs. But keep this in mind the next time that you're going to impress someone with your writing. Using more descriptive verbs will bring more energy into your writing, and you will be able to paint a more powerful picture for your reader through your words.
Related content
Tasks that will help improve your vocabulary and help you find stronger, more descriptive verbs.