Physical Actions and Reactions: English Vocabulary List

to hit or punch lightly and quickly, often in a playful or teasing manner

"Do not poke your brother."

"She gently poked her sleeping brother with a pencil to wake him up for class."

to forcibly pull something apart into pieces

"Tear the paper along the line."

"Please be very careful not to tear the ancient document while you are handling it now."

to hit or strike with force, often accidentally

"He will knock the vase."

"Someone began to knock loudly on the wooden door while we were eating our dinner quietly."

to hit using hands or weapons

"He will strike the target."

"The massive lightning bolt struck the old oak tree and split it into two pieces."

to push forcefully with a quick, strong movement, often using hands or body

"Do not shove people in line."

"The impatient crowd started to shove each other to get closer to the stage entrance quickly."

to cause injury to the surface of one's skin by rubbing it against something rough

"My knee did graze."

"When he fell off his bike, his elbow began to graze against the rough asphalt of the road."

to push a knife or other sharp object into someone to injure or kill them

"The criminal stabbed his victim."

"The witness claimed that a tall masked man tried to stab the victim twice last night."

to block the throat, hinder breathing and cause suffocation

"He almost choked on a bone."

"You might easily choke on your food if you eat too fast without chewing it properly first."

to fight or contend against someone or something, often in a physical or armed conflict

"They will combat the enemy."

"The local government has introduced several new laws to combat the rising levels of pollution effectively."

to beat or strike repeatedly with force, often in a violent or uncontrolled manner

"He will thrash the water."

"The injured animal began to thrash wildly in its attempts to escape from the hunter's trap."

to quickly and unexpectedly attack a group or place to surround and capture them

"The eagle swooped down quickly."

"The eagle waited patiently on the branch then started to swoop down toward its prey below."

to deliver a quick, sharp punch with a straight arm, often used in boxing to hit an opponent

"The boxer jabbed his opponent's face."

"The skilled boxer used his left hand to jab repeatedly at his opponent during the first round."

to wrestle or struggle closely with someone, using hands or the body

"The wrestlers grapple on the mat."

"The two experienced fighters started to grapple on the floor trying to pin each other down successfully."

to hit or strike with great force, often making a loud noise

"Slam the door when you leave."

"She became so extremely angry that she decided to slam the heavy door shut behind her loudly."