Integral Verbs: English Vocabulary List

to briefly look at someone or something

"He glanced at his watch quickly."

"She quickly glanced at her wristwatch and realized that she was already ten minutes late for her important job interview this morning."

to skillfully make something, particularly with the hands

"She crafts jewelry by hand."

"The artisan crafts beautiful wooden furniture by hand using traditional techniques passed down through generations of his family."

to put force on something or to use power in order to influence someone or something

"Do not exert too much pressure on it."

"You need to exert a lot of force to open this jar because the lid is stuck very tightly."

to firmly hold something

"Grip the handle firmly before pulling."

"He had to grip the railing firmly to avoid falling down the steep stairs in the old building."

to act in an authoritative role in a ceremony, meeting, etc.

"The judge presides over the court case."

"The judge will preside over the court case and make sure that both sides follow proper legal procedures."

to have a similar appearance or characteristic to someone or something else

"This painting resembles a famous masterpiece."

"The young boy closely resembles his father in both appearance and personality traits which is quite remarkable."

to put to effective use

"We utilize solar energy to power homes."

"The company plans to utilize new technology to improve its manufacturing process and reduce waste significantly."

to get something back, particularly a quality or ability, after losing it

"She regains her strength after resting well."

"After months of physical therapy the athlete was finally able to regain full strength in his injured leg."

to be the first one to do, use, invent, or discover something

"They pioneer new medical treatments for cancer."

"The scientist pioneered a new surgical technique that has since saved thousands of lives around the world."

to officially let someone know about something

"Please notify us of any changes."

"Please notify the front desk immediately if you experience any problems with your room during your stay at the hotel."

to increase something to the highest possible level

"We need to maximize our profits."

"The company restructured its operations to maximize profits and reduce unnecessary expenses across all departments."

to reduce something to the lowest possible degree or amount, particularly something unpleasant

"You should minimize your daily sugar intake."

"You can minimize the risk of injury by wearing proper safety equipment and following all the instructions carefully."

to officially document all the information or events that have taken place, particularly on a plane or ship

"Log your hours for the project."

"Please log your hours at the end of each day so we can track how much time each project takes."

to intentionally say or do something that disrespects or humiliates someone

"Do not insult people with rude words."

"He did not mean to insult you with his comment so please do not take it personally."

to put someone in prison or keep them somewhere and not let them go

"The judge will imprison the convicted felon."

"The judge decided to imprison the repeat offender for ten years to protect the public from further harm."

to clap one's hands as a sign of approval

"We applaud you."

"The audience began to applaud enthusiastically after the stunning performance."

to quickly open and close one's eyes to attract attention

"She bats her eyes."

"She would bat her eyelashes playfully to get his attention and make him smile."

to secretly observe someone

"The spy watched the house."

"The foreign agent was caught trying to spy on the military base and gathering secret information for his country."

to clearly and verbally express what one thinks or feels

"Learn to articulate your thoughts clearly."

"It is very important to articulate your words clearly when you are giving a presentation to a large audience of people."

to tie someone or something to not let them escape or move freely

"Glue binds the pages together firmly."

"The bookbinder will bind the loose pages together into a hardcover book with a strong adhesive."

to tightly hold on to someone or something

"The baby will cling."

"The frightened child began to cling to his mother's leg as strangers approached them in the crowded market."

to move slowly and quietly, especially in order to avoid being noticed or to approach someone unnoticed

"Cats creep slowly."

"The spy decided to creep through the darkened corridors to avoid detection by guards."

to constantly move around a gas, air, or liquid inside a closed area

"Fresh air circulates through the open windows."

"The fan was used to circulate the cool air throughout the entire room, making it more comfortable."

to move toward a lower level

"The plane will descend soon."

"The airplane started to descend slowly through the thick clouds as it prepared to land at the busy airport."

to cause someone or something to change direction

"Traffic diverts around the accident site."

"The police had to divert traffic away from the accident scene while they cleared the wreckage from the highway."

to pass gas, liquid, light, etc. through something in order to remove unwanted substances

"This machine filters dust from the air."

"The coffee machine will filter the hot water through the ground beans to brew a fresh pot of coffee."

to make something from a piece of metal object by heating it until it becomes soft and then beating it with a hammer

"The blacksmith forges horseshoes from iron."

"The blacksmith used intense heat and a heavy hammer to forge the red hot metal into a horseshoe shape."

to take and tightly hold something

"Grasp the handle."

"He tried to grasp the slippery object, but it eluded his hold."

to match the same qualities as someone or something

"The machine simulates real flight conditions."

"The flight simulator is designed to simulate real flying conditions so pilots can practice emergency procedures safely."

to forcefully or violently shut or close a door, lid, or other object

"Don't slam the door."

"In a fit of anger, he proceeded to slam the car door shut."

to temporarily render an animal or person unconscious or immobile, often by hitting them on the head or using an electrical shock

"The loud noise stuns the birds temporarily."

"The loud explosion stunned the soldiers for a moment but they quickly recovered and continued their mission."

to become whole or united

"We must unify our ideas."

"The new leader promised to unify the divided country and bring peace to all regions after years of conflict."

to feel the desire to do something

"I tempt you."

"The delicious aroma of freshly baked cookies began to tempt her to indulge."

to suddenly and mysteriously disappear without explanation

"The magician makes the rabbit vanish suddenly."

"The magician made the coin vanish from his hand and then reappear behind the ear of a surprised child."

to create fabric or material by interlacing threads, yarn, or other strands in a pattern using a loom or by hand

"The artisan weaves baskets from straw."

"The skilled artisan used a loom to weave the cotton threads into a beautiful traditional patterned fabric by hand."

(of a farm or an industry) to grow or produce a crop or product

"This tree yields delicious fruit every year."

"The fertile land is expected to yield a bountiful harvest of corn and soybeans this season."

to enhance the quality of something, particularly by adding something to it

"Education can enrich your life greatly."

"Education can enrich your life by opening doors to new opportunities and experiences you never imagined."

to keep someone or something within limits of different types, such as subject, activity, area, etc.

"They confined the prisoner to his cell."

"The injured bird was confined to a small cage until its broken wing healed completely and it could fly again on its own."

to die from being under water too long

"Be careful not to drown in deep water."

"The lifeguard rescued the child who was about to drown in the deep end of the swimming pool."

to put someone or something in a specific order or position

"Plug the hole."

"You must dispose of hazardous waste properly and not just throw it in the regular trash bin."