This list brings together 100 verbs, running alphabetically from “Dance” to “Drop.” Most of these words describe everyday actions, from physical movements like dashing and dragging to mental processes like deciding and doubting. You’ll find them constantly in conversation, writing, and reading, since they help you describe what people, animals, and things actually do.

Verbs are words that express an action, occurrence, or state of being, and they form the backbone of every sentence you speak or write. English has thousands of them, and many change form irregularly in the past tense, like “drink” becoming “drank” instead of “drinked.” That irregularity traces back centuries to Old English grammar patterns that still shape how we conjugate verbs today.

Below you’ll find the table with Word, Tense Forms, Definition, Example Usage, and Description.

Word: the verb itself, shown in its base form so you can quickly scan and find the exact one you’re looking for.

Tense Forms: shows you the past tense and past participle, helping you conjugate the verb correctly in different sentences.

Definition: a short, clear explanation of what the verb means, so you immediately understand how to use it.

Example Usage: a sample sentence showing the verb in action, giving you a real-world sense of proper context and phrasing.

Description: a fuller explanation with more detail, helping you grasp the verb’s nuance and common everyday usage.

Verbs

WordTense FormsDefinitionExample Usage
Dancedanced / dancedto move rhythmically to music“They danced all night at the wedding.”
Daredared / daredto have the courage to do something risky“She dared to speak up in the meeting.”
Darkendarkened / darkenedto make or become dark“The sky darkened before the storm.”
Dashdashed / dashedto run or move quickly“He dashed to catch the last bus.”
Datedated / datedto go out romantically; to assign a time to“They have been dating for six months.”
Dawdledawdled / dawdledto waste time; move slowly“Stop dawdling, we’re going to be late.”
Dawndawned / dawnedto begin to grow light; to become clear“It finally dawned on him that he was wrong.”
Daydreamdaydreamed / daydreamedto have pleasant, unfocused thoughts“She daydreamed about her next vacation.”
Dazzledazzled / dazzledto impress greatly; to blind briefly with light“Her performance dazzled the audience.”
Deactivatedeactivated / deactivatedto make something inactive“He deactivated his social media account.”
Dealdealt / dealtto distribute; to handle a situation“She deals with customer complaints daily.”
Debatedebated / debatedto discuss opposing views“The candidates debated the new policy.”
Debugdebugged / debuggedto find and fix errors in code“The programmer debugged the app overnight.”
Decaydecayed / decayedto rot or gradually deteriorate“The old barn began to decay.”
Deceivedeceived / deceivedto mislead someone intentionally“He deceived his business partners.”
Decidedecided / decidedto make a choice“She decided to move to a new city.”
Decipherdeciphered / decipheredto work out the meaning of something unclear“Historians deciphered the ancient inscription.”
Declaredeclared / declaredto state something officially“The country declared its independence.”
Declinedeclined / declinedto politely refuse; to decrease“Sales declined during the winter months.”
Decodedecoded / decodedto convert a coded message into plain language“Analysts decoded the encrypted file.”
Decomposedecomposed / decomposedto break down into simpler parts, especially organically“The fallen leaves decomposed over winter.”
Decoratedecorated / decoratedto make something look more attractive“They decorated the hall for the party.”
Decreasedecreased / decreasedto become or make smaller“Crime rates decreased significantly this year.”
Dedicatededicated / dedicatedto devote to a purpose or person“She dedicated her novel to her late father.”
Deductdeducted / deductedto subtract an amount“Taxes are deducted from every paycheck.”
Deependeepened / deepenedto make or become deeper“Their friendship deepened over the years.”
Defeatdefeated / defeatedto beat someone in a contest“The home team defeated their rivals.”
Defenddefended / defendedto protect from harm or attack“Soldiers defended the border town.”
Deferdeferred / deferredto postpone; to yield to another’s judgment“They deferred the decision until next week.”
Definedefined / definedto state the exact meaning of something“Please define the term for the class.”
Deflatedeflated / deflatedto let air out of something“The balloon slowly deflated overnight.”
Defrostdefrosted / defrostedto thaw something frozen“She defrosted the chicken before cooking.”
Defydefied / defiedto openly resist or refuse to obey“The protesters defied the curfew order.”
Degradedegraded / degradedto lower in quality, condition, or dignity“Pollution degrades the local environment.”
Dehydratedehydrated / dehydratedto lose or remove water from“The hikers became dehydrated in the heat.”
Delaydelayed / delayedto make something happen later than planned“Heavy fog delayed the flight.”
Delegatedelegated / delegatedto hand over a task to someone else“The manager delegated the project to her team.”
Deletedeleted / deletedto remove or erase“He accidentally deleted the file.”
Delightdelighted / delightedto give someone great pleasure“The surprise party delighted her.”
Deliverdelivered / deliveredto bring something to its destination“The courier delivered the package on time.”
Demanddemanded / demandedto ask for something firmly“Workers demanded better pay.”
Demolishdemolished / demolishedto tear down completely“Crews demolished the abandoned building.”
Demonstratedemonstrated / demonstratedto show clearly; to protest publicly“She demonstrated the new technique to the class.”
Departdeparted / departedto leave, especially to start a journey“The train departs from platform two.”
Dependdepended / dependedto rely on someone or something“Children depend on their parents for support.”
Deploydeployed / deployedto move into position for use“The company deployed the update worldwide.”
Descenddescended / descendedto move downward“They descended the mountain at dusk.”
Describedescribed / describedto give a detailed account of“Describe your ideal weekend.”
Desertdeserted / desertedto abandon a person, place, or duty“The soldier was accused of deserting his post.”
Deservedeserved / deservedto have earned or merit something“She deserves recognition for her hard work.”
Designdesigned / designedto plan or create something for a purpose“She designs mobile apps for a living.”
Desiredesired / desiredto want something strongly“He desired a fresh start in a new city.”
Despisedespised / despisedto feel intense dislike or contempt for“She despises dishonesty in any form.”
Destroydestroyed / destroyedto ruin or damage completely“The wildfire destroyed several homes.”
Detachdetached / detachedto separate or disconnect“Detach the coupon and bring it to checkout.”
Detaindetained / detainedto keep someone in custody or delay them“Police detained the suspect for questioning.”
Detectdetected / detectedto discover or notice the presence of something“Smoke detectors detect fire early.”
Determinedetermined / determinedto establish or decide something firmly“Tests determine the cause of the failure.”
Developdeveloped / developedto grow, evolve, or bring to a fuller state“The small town developed into a busy city.”
Devotedevoted / devotedto give time or effort to a purpose“She devotes her weekends to volunteering.”
Diagnosediagnosed / diagnosedto identify the nature of an illness or problem“The doctor diagnosed a mild infection.”
Diedied / diedto stop living“The old oak tree died after the drought.”
Digdug / dugto break up and remove earth“They dug a hole to plant the tree.”
Dilutediluted / dilutedto make weaker by adding liquid“Dilute the juice concentrate with water.”
Dinedined / dinedto eat a meal, especially dinner“They dined at a cozy little restaurant.”
Directdirected / directedto guide, manage, or point the way“She directs the company’s marketing efforts.”
Disagreedisagreed / disagreedto hold a different opinion“They disagreed about the project’s budget.”
Disappeardisappeared / disappearedto vanish from sight“The hikers disappeared into the fog.”
Disappointdisappointed / disappointedto fail to meet expectations“The sequel disappointed longtime fans.”
Discarddiscarded / discardedto throw away something unwanted“He discarded the old newspapers.”
Discoverdiscovered / discoveredto find something for the first time“Scientists discovered a new species of frog.”
Discussdiscussed / discussedto talk about something in detail“They discussed the vacation plans over dinner.”
Disguisedisguised / disguisedto change appearance to hide identity“He disguised himself as a delivery driver.”
Dismissdismissed / dismissedto send away; to reject an idea“The teacher dismissed the class early.”
Displaydisplayed / displayedto show or put on view“The bakery displays fresh pastries in the window.”
Dissolvedissolved / dissolvedto become mixed into a liquid; to end formally“Sugar dissolves quickly in warm water.”
Distractdistracted / distractedto draw attention away from something“Loud music distracted the students.”
Distributedistributed / distributedto give out to a number of people“Volunteers distributed meals to the shelter.”
Disturbdisturbed / disturbedto interrupt or unsettle“Please don’t disturb the meeting in progress.”
Divedived (or dove) / divedto plunge headfirst into water or air“She dove gracefully off the high board.”
Dividedivided / dividedto separate into parts“They divided the cake into eight slices.”
Dodid / doneto perform an action or task“She does her homework every evening.”
Dockdocked / dockedto bring a ship into port; to deduct pay“The ferry docked at the harbor.”
Documentdocumented / documentedto record details in writing“Researchers documented every stage of the experiment.”
Dodgedodged / dodgedto avoid by moving quickly“He dodged the puddle on the sidewalk.”
Donatedonated / donatedto give something as a gift, often to charity“She donates a portion of her salary each month.”
Doubtdoubted / doubtedto feel uncertain about“He doubted the accuracy of the report.”
Downloaddownloaded / downloadedto copy data from the internet to a device“She downloaded the app on her phone.”
Dozedozed / dozedto sleep lightly“He dozed off during the long lecture.”
Draftdrafted / draftedto prepare a preliminary version“She drafted the proposal before the meeting.”
Dragdragged / draggedto pull something along with effort“They dragged the couch across the room.”
Draindrained / drainedto draw off liquid gradually“Drain the pasta before adding the sauce.”
Drawdrew / drawnto create a picture; to pull toward“She draws detailed portraits in her free time.”
Dreaddreaded / dreadedto fear greatly in anticipation“He dreaded the long commute every morning.”
Dreamdreamed (or dreamt) / dreamedto experience thoughts during sleep; to aspire“She dreams of traveling the world someday.”
Dressdressed / dressedto put on clothes“He dressed quickly for the interview.”
Driftdrifted / driftedto be carried slowly by a current“The boat drifted away from the shore.”
Drinkdrank / drunkto take liquid into the mouth and swallow“She drinks a glass of water every morning.”
Drivedrove / drivento operate and control a vehicle“He drives to work every day.”
Dropdropped / droppedto let fall; to decrease suddenly“She dropped her phone on the pavement.”

Descriptions

Dance
Dance means moving your body in rhythm, usually to music, for fun, exercise, or performance.
Dare
To dare is to be brave enough to attempt something risky or challenging.
Darken
Darken means to make something less light or for it to grow dim.
Dash
To dash is to move somewhere very fast, often suddenly and urgently.
Date
Date can mean going on romantic outings with someone or working out when something happened.
Dawdle
To dawdle is to move slowly or delay doing something instead of getting on with it.
Dawn
Dawn as a verb describes daybreak arriving or an idea suddenly becoming clear to someone.
Daydream
To daydream is to drift into pleasant thoughts instead of focusing on the task at hand.
Dazzle
Dazzle means to amaze someone with brilliance or skill, or to blind them briefly with bright light.
Deactivate
Deactivate means to turn something off or make it no longer active or usable.
Deal
Deal covers handling a situation, doing business, or distributing something like playing cards.
Debate
To debate is to argue or discuss a topic formally, weighing different sides.
Debug
Debug means to locate and remove faults, especially in computer software.
Decay
Decay means to gradually break down, rot, or decline in quality over time.
Deceive
To deceive is to trick someone into believing something that isn’t true.
Decide
Decide means to make up your mind and settle on a course of action.
Decipher
To decipher is to figure out the meaning of something coded, unclear, or hard to read.
Declare
Declare means to announce something formally and clearly, often in public.
Decline
Decline can mean politely turning something down or gradually becoming smaller or worse.
Decode
To decode is to translate something written in code back into ordinary, understandable language.
Decompose
Decompose means to rot or break down naturally into simpler substances over time.
Decorate
To decorate is to add ornamental touches that make something look more appealing.
Decrease
Decrease means to reduce, or grow smaller, in size, amount, or degree.
Dedicate
To dedicate is to devote time, effort, or a work of art to a particular purpose or person.
Deduct
To deduct is to take an amount away from a total, often money.
Deepen
Deepen means to make something more intense, or to physically become deeper.
Defeat
To defeat is to win against an opponent or successfully overcome a challenge.
Defend
Defend means to protect someone or something from harm, criticism, or attack.
Defer
Defer means to put something off until later or to accept someone else’s opinion out of respect.
Define
To define is to explain precisely what something means or state its essential nature.
Deflate
Deflate means to release air or gas from something, or to make someone feel less confident.
Defrost
Defrost means to remove ice from or thaw something that had been frozen.
Defy
To defy is to boldly resist authority or refuse to follow expectations.
Degrade
Degrade means to reduce something’s quality, or to treat a person disrespectfully.
Dehydrate
Dehydrate means to lose or remove water, often used for the body or preserved food.
Delay
To delay is to postpone something or slow down its progress.
Delegate
Delegate means to assign responsibility or a task to another person.
Delete
To delete is to remove something, especially text or digital data, completely.
Delight
Delight means to give someone great pleasure or satisfaction.
Deliver
Deliver means to bring something to the person or place it’s intended for.
Demand
To demand is to ask for something forcefully, as though it were owed.
Demolish
Demolish means to completely destroy or knock down a structure.
Demonstrate
Demonstrate means to clearly show how something works, or to publicly express a viewpoint.
Depart
Depart means to leave a place, often to begin a trip.
Depend
Depend means to rely on someone or something for help or a particular outcome.
Deploy
Deploy means to move people or resources into position for a specific purpose.
Descend
Descend means to move or go down from a higher place to a lower one.
Describe
Describe means to give a detailed account of something using words.
Desert
Desert means to abandon someone or something, often disloyally.
Deserve
Deserve means to have earned or be worthy of something, whether good or bad.
Design
Design means to plan and create something, often creatively, for a specific purpose.
Desire
Desire means to want something very strongly.
Despise
Despise means to strongly dislike or feel contempt for someone or something.
Destroy
Destroy means to damage something so severely it no longer exists or functions.
Detach
Detach means to disconnect or separate one thing from another.
Detain
Detain means to hold someone back, either in official custody or simply by delaying them.
Detect
Detect means to notice or discover something that isn’t easily seen.
Determine
Determine means to find out or firmly decide something.
Develop
Develop means to grow or improve over time, or to create something new step by step.
Devote
Devote means to give a significant amount of time, energy, or resources to something.
Diagnose
Diagnose means to identify what’s wrong through examination, whether in medicine or troubleshooting.
Die
Die means to stop living, or more broadly, to come to an end.
Dig
Dig means to break up and move earth or another material, typically with a tool or hands.
Dilute
Dilute means to make a liquid weaker or less concentrated by adding water or another substance.
Dine
Dine means to eat a meal, often used for a more formal evening meal.
Direct
Direct means to guide, control, or instruct the course of something or someone.
Disagree
Disagree means to have a different view or opinion from someone else.
Disappear
Disappear means to stop being visible or to vanish suddenly.
Disappoint
Disappoint means to fail to satisfy someone’s hopes or expectations.
Discard
Discard means to get rid of something that is no longer wanted or needed.
Discover
Discover means to find or learn about something that was previously unknown.
Discuss
Discuss means to talk about a topic in detail with one or more people.
Disguise
Disguise means to change how someone or something looks in order to hide their true identity.
Dismiss
Dismiss means to send someone away, end their job, or reject an idea without much thought.
Display
Display means to put something on show so people can see it.
Dissolve
Dissolve means to mix completely into a liquid, or to formally bring something like a partnership to an end.
Distract
Distract means to pull someone’s attention away from what they should be focused on.
Distribute
Distribute means to give something out to many people or spread it over an area.
Disturb
Disturb means to interrupt someone’s peace or activity, or to worry them.
Dive
Dive means to plunge headfirst into water, or to drop or descend sharply and quickly.
Divide
Divide means to separate something into two or more parts or groups.
Do
Do is one of the most common verbs in English, used to perform actions or form questions and negatives.
Dock
Dock means to bring a boat into a harbor, or to subtract an amount from someone’s pay.
Document
Document means to record information in detail, usually in writing or on video.
Dodge
Dodge means to quickly move out of the way of something, or cleverly avoid a question or duty.
Donate
Donate means to give money, goods, or time freely, usually to help a cause.
Doubt
Doubt means to feel uncertain or lack confidence about whether something is true.
Download
Download means to transfer data or files from the internet or a server onto your own device.
Doze
Doze means to sleep lightly, often briefly and unintentionally.
Draft
Draft means to write a preliminary version of something, or to select someone for service or a team.
Drag
Drag means to pull something heavy or reluctant along a surface with effort.
Drain
Drain means to cause liquid to flow out of something, or to gradually use up energy or resources.
Draw
Draw means to create a picture using lines, or to pull something toward or out of somewhere.
Dread
Dread means to feel great fear or anxiety about something that is going to happen.
Dream
Dream means to experience images and thoughts while asleep, or to hope for something deeply.
Dress
Dress means to put on clothing, or to prepare food or a wound in a particular way.
Drift
Drift means to move slowly and without control, carried by water, wind, or circumstance.
Drink
Drink means to take in liquid through the mouth, most often water or a beverage.
Drive
Drive means to operate a vehicle, or more broadly, to push or motivate something forward.
Drop
Drop means to let something fall, or for a value or level to decrease, often suddenly.
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