Expressing Movements: English Vocabulary List

to walk with short, clumsy steps and a swaying motion from side to side, typically as a result of being overweight or having short legs

"Penguins waddle on the ice."

"The fat penguin began to waddle awkwardly across the ice toward the water where its friends were already swimming and catching fish for dinner."

to move with an unsteady, rocking, or swaying motion, often implying a lack of stability or balance

"The table wobbles on uneven legs."

"The toddler took his first few steps but his legs began to wobble and he fell down softly onto the carpet without hurting himself."

to tread heavily and forcefully, often with a rhythmic or deliberate motion

"The angry man stomped his foot."

"The angry child began to stomp his feet on the floor when his mother told him that he could not have any candy before dinner."

to perform a gymnastic move involving rolling the body sideways in a full circle, typically with arms and legs extended

"The gymnast cartwheeled across the mat."

"The excited little girl performed a perfect cartwheel on the grass to show her grandparents how much she had learned in her gymnastics class."

to twist, turn, or move with quick, contorted motions

"The worm wriggled in the soil."

"The small worm tried to wriggle out of the bird's beak but the bird held on tightly and swallowed it in one quick gulp."

to perform a gymnastic or acrobatic movement in which the body makes a complete revolution, typically forwards or backwards, with the feet passing over the head

"The child somersaulted on the soft grass."

"The acrobat performed a perfect somersault in the air and landed gracefully on her feet while the amazed crowd clapped and cheered loudly."

to move quickly and lightly from somewhere or something to another

"Butterflies flit from flower to flower."

"The colorful butterfly continued to flit from one flower to another in the warm summer garden without ever resting for more than a few seconds."

to dance, move, or skip with quick, lively steps

"Children jigged with joy."

"The happy fisherman began to jig up and down when he finally felt a large fish tugging on the end of his fishing line."

to move smoothly and quietly, like a snake

"The snake slithered through the grass silently."

"The long snake began to slither silently through the tall grass toward the unsuspecting mouse that was nibbling on a seed."

to turn or move around an axis or center

"The Earth revolves around the Sun."

"The earth continues to revolve around the sun once every three hundred sixty five days which gives us our yearly calendar and the changing seasons."

to climb a surface using hands and feet

"She clambered over the large rocks."

"The children managed to clamber over the large fallen tree that was blocking the path through the forest during their nature hike."

to fall or drop with a soft, muffled sound

"He plopped down on the soft sofa."

"She carefully plopped a spoonful of whipped cream on top of her hot chocolate and watched it slowly melt into the warm drink."

to move rapidly and erratically, often with a lack of control

"The car careened around the sharp corner."

"The runaway shopping cart began to careen down the steep parking lot ramp and crashed into a parked car at the bottom."

(of a vehicle) to slide or slip uncontrollably, usually on a slippery surface

"The car skidded on the wet road."

"The car's tires began to skid on the icy road and the driver lost control for a few terrifying seconds before regaining traction."