What are the power verbs? The list below is provided to help you find some great, active verbs to help the descriptive lines on your resume stand out.
List of Power Verbs in English
Here are some better alternatives to common weak words.
Weak Word: DID
- Act
- Activate
- Administer
- Apply
- Arrange
- Carry out
- Conduct
- Execute
- Facilitate
- Handle
- Perform
Weak Word: MAKE
- Assemble
- Compose
- Create
- Design
- Develop
- Devise
- Engineer
- Establish
- Fashion
- Formulate
- Generate
- Produce
- Synthesize
Weak Word: FIX
- Alleviate
- Amended
- Debugged
- Detected
- Diagnosed
- Investigated
- Remedied
- Repaired
- Revitalized
- Solved
- Synthesized
- Streamline
Weak Word: SHOW
- Demonstrate
- Depict
- Describe
- Exhibit
- Highlight
- Illustrate
- Portray
- Represent
Weak Words: TALK, SPEAK, WRITE, COMMUNICATE
- Addressed
- Advocate
- Briefed
- Communicate
- Composed
- Convince
- Consulted
- Collaborate
- Correspond
- Disseminate
- Edited
- Educated
- Explained
- Highlight
- Inform
- Instruct
- Interact
- Negotiate
- Present
- Publicize
- Report
- Specify
- Verify
- Welcome
Weak Word: KEEP
- Ensure
- Maintain
- Strengthen
Weak Word: USE
- Operate
Weak Word: GET
- Achieve
- Obtain
- Procure
Common Power Verbs
In this section, we will cover some of the most commonly used power verbs in English. These verbs can help you communicate your message more effectively and confidently.
Act
One of the most powerful verbs in English, “act” is a versatile word that can convey a wide range of meanings. It can mean to perform a specific action, to behave in a certain way, or to take a particular course of action.
- For example, you could say “I acted quickly to resolve the issue” or “We need to act now to prevent further damage.”
Achieve
“Achieve” is another powerful verb that can help you communicate your accomplishments and successes. It means to successfully accomplish a goal or objective.
- For example, you could say “I achieved my sales targets for the quarter” or “We achieved our goal of reducing waste by 50%.”
Create
“Create” is a verb that can be used to describe the act of making something new or bringing something into existence. It can be used in a wide variety of contexts, from art and music to business and technology.
- For example, you could say “I created a new marketing campaign that increased sales” or “We created a new product that revolutionized the industry.“
Improve
“Improve” is a verb that can be used to describe the act of making something better or enhancing its quality. It can be used in a wide variety of contexts, from personal development to business and technology.
- For example, you could say “I improved my public speaking skills by attending a workshop” or “We improved our production process to increase efficiency.“
Solve
“Solve” is a verb that can be used to describe the act of finding a solution to a problem or challenge. It can be used in a wide variety of contexts, from math and science to business and personal relationships.
- For example, you could say “I solved the technical issue by rebooting the system” or “We solved the customer complaint by offering a refund.“
Power Verbs for Communication
In English, power verbs are action words that have a positive connotation. They help you communicate your message more strongly and confidently. Power verbs are essential in communication, especially in written communication such as resumes, essays, and business presentations. In this section, we will explore some of the most commonly used power verbs for communication.
When communicating, it is essential to use power verbs that paint a picture for the reader or listener by highlighting your skills and accomplishments. Here are some examples of power verbs to use when communicating:
- Achieved: This power verb communicates that you have accomplished something significant. It shows that you have put in the effort to achieve a goal and have succeeded.
- Collaborated: This power verb communicates that you have worked with others to achieve a common goal. It shows that you are a team player and can work well with others.
- Demonstrated: This power verb communicates that you have shown something in action. It shows that you have the ability to put your skills and knowledge into practice.
- Implemented: This power verb communicates that you have put something into action. It shows that you have taken the initiative to make something happen.
- Negotiated: This power verb communicates that you have successfully reached an agreement with others. It shows that you have strong communication and persuasion skills.
- Resolved: This power verb communicates that you have solved a problem. It shows that you have the ability to think critically and find solutions to complex issues.
Using power verbs in your communication helps you stand out from the crowd and shows that you are confident in your abilities. When writing or speaking, it is important to use power verbs that accurately reflect your skills and accomplishments. By doing so, you can communicate your message more effectively and achieve your goals.
Power Verbs for Leadership
As leaders, it’s important to communicate effectively and convey a sense of authority and confidence. One way to do this is by using power verbs in your speech and writing. Power verbs are action words that have a strong and positive connotation, helping to convey your message more effectively.
Here are some power verbs that can be used in a leadership context:
- Advocated: To support or recommend a particular course of action.
- Enabled: To give someone the ability or resources to do something.
- Led: To guide or direct a group of people towards a common goal.
- Aroused: To stir up or inspire a particular emotion or feeling.
- Energized: To give energy or enthusiasm to someone or something.
- Lobbied: To try to influence a decision or policy by speaking to those in power.
- Assembled: To bring together a group of people or things in one place.
Using these power verbs can help you to communicate your ideas more effectively and inspire confidence in others.
As a leader, it’s also important to use power verbs when describing your past experience and accomplishments. This can help to demonstrate your leadership abilities and show that you are capable of taking charge and getting things done.
Here are some power verbs that can be used to describe leadership experience:
- Organized: To arrange or coordinate something in a structured and efficient manner.
- Motivated: To inspire or encourage someone to take action.
- Influenced: To have an effect on someone or something, often through persuasion or negotiation.
- Directed: To give guidance or instructions to a group of people.
- Coordinated: To work together with others to achieve a common goal.
- Managed: To oversee and be responsible for the successful completion of a task or project.
By using these power verbs, you can effectively communicate your leadership experience and skills to potential employers or colleagues.
Power Verbs for Teamwork
When it comes to teamwork, using the right power verbs can make all the difference in how you communicate your skills and accomplishments. These action words not only highlight your teamwork abilities, but also demonstrate your leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. Here are some of the most effective power verbs to use when describing your teamwork experience:
- Collaborated: This power verb showcases your ability to work effectively with others towards a common goal.
- Coordinated: This verb demonstrates your organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and team members.
- Facilitated: This verb shows that you are skilled at guiding and leading a group towards success.
- Mentored: This verb highlights your ability to provide guidance and support to team members, demonstrating your leadership and coaching skills.
- United: This verb emphasizes your ability to bring people together and work towards a common goal.
- Volunteered: This verb demonstrates your willingness to step up and contribute to the team, highlighting your teamwork and initiative.
By using these power verbs, you can effectively communicate your teamwork experience and skills to potential employers. Remember to use them in a way that accurately reflects your experience and accomplishments, and be sure to provide specific examples to back up your claims.
Power Verbs for Problem Solving
When facing a problem, it’s essential to communicate effectively and confidently. Using power verbs can help you convey your message more strongly and efficiently. Here are some power verbs that can be used for problem-solving:
- Analyze: To examine something in detail and identify its essential features and elements.
- Evaluate: To assess the significance, worth, or quality of something.
- Identify: To recognize and name something accurately.
- Solve: To find a solution to a problem or issue.
- Implement: To put a plan or solution into action.
- Collaborate: To work together with others to achieve a common goal.
- Innovate: To introduce new ideas or methods to solve a problem.
- Optimize: To make the best use of something or to improve its efficiency.
- Refine: To make small improvements to something to make it better.
- Streamline: To simplify a process to make it more efficient.
By using these power verbs, you can show your problem-solving skills and communicate your ideas more effectively. For example, instead of saying, “I worked on a problem,” you can say, “I analyzed the issue and implemented an innovative solution that optimized the process.”
Power Verbs for Achievements
In English, power verbs are action words that have positive meanings. They can help you communicate your achievements and rewards more strongly and confidently. When you’re writing a resume or other job application materials, it’s critical to mention your achievements and rewards to convey your skills, ability to complete projects, and excel at tasks.
Here are some power verbs you can use to describe your achievements:
- Achieved: This verb is perfect for showcasing a specific goal you accomplished.
- For example, “I achieved a 25% increase in sales last quarter.“
- Completed: Use this verb to describe a task or project you finished.
- For example, “I completed a major website redesign project on time and under budget.“
- Exceeded: This verb is ideal for highlighting when you went above and beyond expectations.
- For example, “I exceeded my sales targets by 50% last year.“
- Implemented: Use this verb to describe when you put a plan or idea into action.
- For example, “I implemented a new customer service program that improved customer satisfaction ratings by 20%.“
- Streamlined: This verb is great for showing how you improved a process or system.
- For example, “I streamlined our inventory management system, reducing waste and saving the company $50,000 annually.“
Power Verbs for Creativity
As we all know, creativity is a crucial aspect of our lives, whether it be in our personal or professional lives. Using power verbs to describe our creative abilities can help us stand out from the crowd. Here are some power verbs that can be used to describe creativity:
- Innovate
- Brainstorm
- Conceptualize
- Design
- Imagine
- Invent
- Originate
- Reframe
- Revitalize
- Transform
By using these power verbs, we can effectively communicate our creative abilities to potential employers, clients, or colleagues. For example, instead of saying “I came up with a new idea,” we can say “I innovated a new solution that increased productivity by 50%.”
Power Verbs for Job Applications
When applying for a job, it is important to use power verbs in your resume and cover letter. Power verbs can help you communicate your skills and accomplishments more effectively. Here are some power verbs that you can use in your job application:
- Achieved
- Analyzed
- Coordinated
- Created
- Developed
- Enhanced
- Implemented
- Improved
- Innovated
- Led
- Managed
- Maximized
- Organized
- Optimized
- Resolved
- Streamlined
Using these power verbs can help you stand out from other applicants and demonstrate your value to potential employers. However, it is important to use them appropriately and accurately. Don’t use a power verb just for the sake of using one – make sure it accurately reflects your experience and accomplishments.
In addition to using power verbs, it is also important to quantify your achievements whenever possible. For example, instead of saying “improved sales,” you could say “increased sales by 20%.” This helps to make your accomplishments more tangible and impressive.
Power Verbs for Presentations
In any presentation, it is important to use powerful and effective language to engage your audience and convey your message with confidence. This is where power verbs come in handy. Power verbs are action words that have a positive and strong meaning in English, making them perfect for presentations.
Using power verbs can help you communicate your message more effectively and confidently, which can make a big difference in how your audience perceives you and your presentation. Some examples of power verbs that you can use in your presentations include:
- Inspire: to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something
- Motivate: to provide someone with a reason to do something
- Engage: to attract and hold someone’s attention
- Persuade: to convince someone to do or believe something
- Impress: to make someone feel admiration and respect
By using these power verbs, you can make your presentation more engaging and persuasive, and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Practice and Exercises with Answers
Now that we have covered what power verbs are and how to use them, it’s time to practice! In this section, we will provide you with some exercises to help you strengthen your knowledge of power verbs.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate power verb from the list below:
- The new employee __________ the project with great enthusiasm.
- The CEO __________ the company’s profits in the last quarter.
- The team __________ a new strategy to increase sales.
- The teacher __________ the students to always try their best.
Power Verbs: innovate, motivate, initiate, analyze
Answers:
- initiated
- analyzed
- innovated
- motivated
Exercise 2: Match the Definition
Match the power verb with its correct definition:
- Optimize
- Facilitate
- Evaluate
- Persuade
A. To make something as good as it can be B. To make something easier or more convenient C. To assess the value or quality of something D. To convince someone to do something
Answers:
- A
- B
- C
- D
Exercise 3: Rewrite the Sentence
Rewrite the following sentence using a power verb:
- The manager was happy with the team’s progress.
Answer: The manager was pleased with the team’s progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some strong action verbs to use in lesson plans?
When creating lesson plans, it’s important to use strong action verbs to clearly communicate the intended learning outcomes. Some examples of strong action verbs to use in lesson plans include: analyze, compare, contrast, create, evaluate, explain, identify, interpret, and summarize. By using these verbs, we can guide students towards specific learning goals and help them to develop critical thinking skills.
What are some power verbs that students can use to improve their writing?
In order to improve their writing, students can use power verbs to make their writing more engaging and effective. Some examples of power verbs that students can use include: persuade, convince, describe, illustrate, demonstrate, and narrate. By using these verbs, students can create more vivid and descriptive writing that captures the reader’s attention.
What are some powerful verbs to use on a resume?
When creating a resume, it’s important to use powerful verbs to highlight your skills and accomplishments. Some examples of powerful verbs to use on a resume include: achieved, created, developed, implemented, managed, organized, and supervised. By using these verbs, we can showcase our achievements and demonstrate our value to potential employers.
What are some action verbs to use when trying to convey knowledge?
When trying to convey knowledge, it’s important to use action verbs to clearly communicate the intended message. Some examples of action verbs to use when trying to convey knowledge include: explain, demonstrate, illustrate, teach, and train. By using these verbs, we can effectively communicate complex ideas and help others to understand and learn.
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