Action Verb List
This list presents action verbs for use in constructing objectives. Once you decide on
the type of learned capability for the objective (Column 1), these verbs can be used
to match the learned capability with the appropriate action for the objective.
Learned Capability
Discrimination
Verb
alter
arrange
circle
describe
discover
divide
isolate
point
segregate
separate
set apart
show
sort
split
write (or)
type
Concrete concept
arrange
call
catalogue
combine
connect
describe
duplicate
gather
group
index
inspect
itemize
join
label
link
mark
match
name
narrate
place
Definition
to change
to mentally order or classify in categories
to indicate understanding by encircling
to characterize qualities
to detect the true character
to separate into two or more parts or groups
to set apart
to make known or visible
to separate or set apart from
to set apart
to reserve to a particular use
to point out a difference
to mentally group on the basis of common
characteristics
to mentally divide into parts of portions
to put in print
to place in an orderly manner; to classify
into categories
to make a request
to classify material
to synthesize in order to form a whole
to make a mental connection
to represent or give an account
to produce something equal to
to bring together or collect
to form a complete unit from two or more
parts; to classify; to mentally join or fasten
together
to list items in order or lead to a fact or
conclusion
to observe to take note of
to detail or particularize
to put together to form a unit
to describe or designate
to mentally connect
to distinguish a trait or quality
to equate
to label; to mention explicitly
to relate in detail
to distribute in an orderly manner
(table continues)
Learned capability
Concrete concept
(continued)
Verb
point
Definition
to indicate; to assign
repeat
select
to summarize principle points
to choose by preference form a number or
group
to arrange in groups according to
predetermined specifications
to relate or give an account of
to coordinate or blend
to arrange alphabetically
to put in order
to modify or make fit
to appraise the worth of
to arrange in order according to specified
characteristics
to combine according to certain
characteristics
to place in a specified category to inventory
traits, preferences, attitudes, interests, or
abilities that evaluate characteristics or skills
to make determinations based on standard
criteria
to systematize
to form into a coherent unit
to assign to a category or classify
to make an orderly arrangement
to assign a value; to estimate
to make a chronicle of
to assign a value to
to distribute into groups according to
specified characteristics
to examine a condition or appraise
to consider carefully or evaluate
to put in print
sort
Defined concept
tell
unite
alphabetize
arrange
change
evaluate
file
group
list
measure
order
organize
pigeonhole
rank
rate
record
score
sort
Rule
survey
weigh
write (or)
type
announce
categorize
coach
corroborate
define
depict
describe
disclose
display
divulge
explain
expose
to make known or proclaim
to separate according to specified
characteristics
to instruct beforehand
to support with evidence
to fix or make limits
to portray or make meaning from
to represent or give an account
to uncover or make known; to reveal
to exhibit or make evident
to make public, unveil, or reveal
to tell, educate, or train
to portray, reveal, or draw forth
(table continues)
Learned capability
Rule (continued)
Verb
extricate
locate
organize
paint
place
present
proclaim
prove
relate
reveal
separate
show
summarize
teach
tell
tutor
unfold
verify
Problem solving
acquire
arrive
assemble
build
collect
complete
compose
construct
convince
create
deduce
design
develop
devise
effect
eliminate
enact
enlist
equalize
erect
establish
excite
exhibit
finish
formulate
Definition
to untangle or straighten; to pull from
to find; to place in a location or category
to arrange or form into a coherent unit; to
integrate
to make a representation or five an example
to situate or locate
to show
to give an outward indicate of
to authenticate
to tell
to divulge or to remake known
to break up or detach
to demonstrate clearly or make clear
to state concisely
to instruct or train
to give an account of
to coach or guide, usually in a particular
subject
to open to view; to reveal
to establish truth, accuracy, or reality; to
confirm
to come to have possession of
to appear; to reach a predetermined or
undetermined conclusion
to fit together
to construct or form
to bring together into one body or place
to finish
to form by putting together
to arrange parts of elements; to build
to persuade by argument; establish belief
to produce or bring about by a course of
action
to derive from
to conceive and plan
to expound; to make clear by degrees or in
detail
to plan to obtain or bring about
to bring about or cause to take place
to exclude based on specified criteria
to set up, establish, or constitute
to secure the support and aid of; employ
to make like in quality or quantity
to put together by fitting materials; build
to set up or constitute
to stimulate to action
to present to view
to complete
to form systematically
(table continues)
Learned capability
Problem solving
(continued)
Cognitive strategy
Verb
give
inaugurate
incite
include
initiate
introduce
invent
launch
make
originate
plot
present
produce
show
stimulate
supply
accede to
accept
admit
advocate
affirm
agree
allow
approve
arrange
authorize
champion
clarify
comply
concede
confirm
contain
corroborate
defend
define
describe
embrace
employ
enact
encompass
endorse
endure
engage
espouse
exercise
Definition
to furnish what is needed
to bring about the beginning
to move to action
to incorporate according to specified criteria
to cause the beginning of; set in motion
to bring into play; institute
to originate, find, begin
to set in motion; initiate
to create or cause to exist, occur, or appear
to author or cause to exist
to devise or plan to bring about
to offer to view; show
to make, yield, render, or bring to bear
to cause or permit to be seen; exhibit
to arouse to action
to furnish what is needed; give
to give in to a request or demand
to regard as having a certain meaning;
understand
to allow or permit; provide for
to please in favor of
to validate
to settle on by common consent; admit;
concede
to permit, admit, consent, say, or state
to give formal or official sanction
to place or distribute in an orderly manner
to establish by authority
to uphold; support
to make understandable
to accept tacitly or overtly
to accept as true, valid, or accurate
to give approval top ratify
to have within; hold; compromise; include
to support with evidence or authority;
confirm
to protect or maintain a position
to fix or make limits
to represent or give an account
to include
to make use of
to establish by legal authoritative action
to enclose, envelop, or include
to express approval publicly
to remain firm or unyielding
to attract and hold
to give verbal support
to make effective; use; exert
(table continues)
Learned capability
Cognitive strategy
(continued)
Verb
exhaust
Definition
to use up or consume entirely
expend
explain
to make use of for a specific purpose
to make known; to make plain and
understandable
to put into effect, carry out, or accomplish
to unite or work into something that already
exists so as to form an indistinguishable
whole
to contract
to enact by laws
to enumerate
to manage or use skillfully
to tell in detail
to perform a function; to produce an
appropriate effect
to make possible
to test the truth or validity of
to formally approve and sanction; confirm
to repeat or read aloud
to relate in detail; narrate
to present an account of ;repeat; narrate;
relate or enumerate
to give an account of; tell
to give an account of
to make valid or binding
to make more intelligible
to establish by proof or evidence; verify
to substantiate
to support against an opponent
to put into action
to confirm, support, or corroborate
to confirm or substantiate in law by oath
to make known or take notice
to move forward
to state positively; validate or confirm
to be consistent or in harmony with
to assert without proof
to make known publicly; proclaim
to contend or disagree in words; dispute
to express
to state or declare positively
to establish or verify the usage of
to describe a quality
to command or instruct
to make understandable
to explain or interpret
to make known
to tell or make known
to approve or ratify
implement
incorporate
incur
legislate
list
manipulate
narrate
operate
permit
prove
ratify
recite
recount
rehearse
Verbal information
relate
report
sanction
simplify
substantiate
support
uphold
use
validate
verify
acknowledge
advance
affirm
agree
allege
announce
argue
articulate
assert
attest
characterize
charge
clarify
comment
communicate
confess
confirm
(table continues)
Learned capability
Verbal information
(continued)
Motor skill
Verb
contend
Definition
to maintain or assert
contribute
decipher
declare
decode
define
delineate
explain
expound
express
interpret
justify
narrate
notify
offer
portray
profess
`propose
rationalize
to supply information
to convert into intelligible form
to make known formally or explicitly
to decipher
to explain the meaning of
to describe in detail
to make known to make understandable
to set forth; state
to represent, state, depict, or delineate
to explain or tell the meaning of
to prove to be just, right, or reasonable
to tell in detail
to give notice
to present for acceptance
to describe in words
to declare or admit openly or freely
to set forth
to bring into accord with reason or cause
something to seem reasonable
to relate in detail or narrate
to talk
to state or relate
to speak
to describe briefly and succinctly
to express in words
to speak
to express in words
to fasten to
to manage or supervise the use of
to help
to order
to cause to take place
to cause to appear
to achieve
to remove or eradicate; strip or empty
to finish
to lead
to distribute
to convey
to show
to show or point out
to unload
to permit or cause to leave
to deal out in portions
to make evident
to expend by proportion
to bring to pass or carry out
recount
speak
tell
utter
summarize
verbalize
vocalize
voice
attach
administer
aid
arrange
bring about
bring on
carry out
clean
complete
conduct
deal
deliver
demonstrate
direct
discharge
dismiss
dispense
display
distribute
do
(table continued)
Learned capability
Motor skill
(continued)
Verb
donate
dramatize
emerge
empty
endow
equip
establish
excrete
finish
force
free
give
impersonate
implement
inflict
liberate
make
organize
pass
perform
play
present
release
serve
sketch
stage
supply
surrender
transfer
Attitude
work
adopt
advocate
champion
complete
conclude
cull
decide
decree
defend
determine
discover
discriminate
distinguish
divine
Definition
to give
to present with heightened action
to come forth
to remove the contents of
to bestow upon or furnish with
to furnish
to physically erect
to shift out; discharge
to bring to an end
to cause to happen
to rid of restraints
to yield, grant, or bestow
to assume the character of or act like
another
to carry out; accomplish
to impose or perpetrate
to set free
to create or construct
to arrange
to move ahead of
to act out or dramatize
to engage in pleasurable activity
to show
to let go
to wait upon
to draw
to produce for public view
to provide
to give over
to convey from one person, place, or
situation to another
to expend energy toward labor
to accept formally
to please in favor of
to support
to finish
to decide
to select from a group
to come to a conclusion
to determine
to take a position
to settle or decide
to make known or visible
to distinguish
to perceive a difference
to discover or locate
(table continues)
Learned capability
Attitude (continued)
Verb
elect
embrace
encompassed
endorse
espouse
fancy
favor
include
incorporate
judge
opt
perform
pick
prefer
resolve
select
settle
take up
Definition
to choose freely
to take in or include as part of
to include
to express approval
to support
to like
to lean toward
to take in as part f a whole
to unite or work into something that already
exists
to form an opinion of
to choose or select
to act our or dramatize
to choose or select
to like better; recommend
to conclude
to choose by preference
to resolve or decide
to accept or adopt
Lee, W. W., & Owens, D. L. (2000). Multimedia-based instructional design:
Computer-based training, web-based training, distance broadcast training (pp. 228238). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer.