Top 100 Commonly Used Verbs that Start with A

Verbs are the backbone of any language. They form the core of most sentences by expressing actions, states of being, or occurrences. Mastering commonly used verbs can significantly improve both spoken and written communication. In this article, we will dive into top 100 commonly used verbs that start with the A, exploring their meanings, usage, and how they contribute to fluent language skills.

What is a Verb?

Before we dive into the verbs starting with A, it’s important to understand what a verb actually is. A verb is a word that describes an action, state, or occurrence. Verbs are essential because they tell us what the subject of a sentence is doing (action verbs) or the state it is in (linking verbs).

For example:

• Action verb: She runs fast.
• Linking verb: She is happy.

Verbs can be categorized into several types:

• Action verbs: Express an activity or action.
• Linking verbs: Connect the subject to a description or condition.
• Auxiliary verbs: Help the main verb express tense, mood, or voice.

Understanding verbs beginning with A expands your ability to express a variety of actions and states in English.

What is a Verb Starting with A?

When we talk about verbs that start with A, we’re referring to any verb in the English language that begins with the letter “A.” These verbs are used just like any other verb, but their alphabetical placement makes them a unique group to focus on. For example, verbs like “act,” “ask,” and “apply” are all action words starting with A.

What Are Some Examples of Verbs that Start with A?

Here is a table with more examples of verbs that start with A:

Verb	Example Sentence
Accept	She accepted the invitation to the party.
Achieve	He achieved his goal of running a marathon.
Act	She acted bravely during the emergency.
Adapt	The company must adapt to new market trends.
Add	Please add some sugar to the recipe.
Admire	I admire her dedication to the project.
Admit	He admitted his mistake during the meeting.
Advise	I advise you to start studying earlier.
Advocate	She advocates for environmental protection.
Affect	The cold weather can affect your health.
Agree	We all agreed to meet at the restaurant.
Allow	The teacher allowed the students to leave early.
Announce	They announced the winners at the ceremony.
Apologize	I apologize for being late to the meeting.
Apply	He decided to apply for the job at the company.
Appreciate	I really appreciate your help with this task.
Approach	She approached the podium to give her speech.
Approve	The board approved the new proposal.
Argue	They often argue about politics.
Arrange	I will arrange the documents for the meeting.
Ask	She asked for directions to the nearest hotel.
Assert	He asserted his opinion during the debate.
Assess	The teacher will assess your work at the end of the semester.
Assist	She assisted her colleague with the project.
Assume	We assumed they would arrive on time.
Assure	I assure you that everything will be fine.
Attach	Please attach the report to the email.
Attack	The team attacked the problem from all angles.
Attempt	He will attempt to fix the car this weekend.
Attend	She attended the conference last week.
Attract	Bright colors attract attention in a crowd.
Avoid	She tries to avoid eating junk food.
Awake	I awoke to the sound of birds outside my window.

More Examples:

Abandon	They abandoned the project due to budget cuts.
Absolve	The judge absolved the defendant of all charges.
Accelerate	The car began to accelerate quickly.
Activate	Press the button to activate the machine.
Accuse	She accused him of stealing her book.
Accomplish	They accomplished all the tasks before the deadline.
Accumulate	Over time, he accumulated a large collection of books.
Acquire	She acquired new skills through online courses.
Adapt	We must adapt to the changing technology.
Addict	He was addicted to playing video games.
Address	We need to address the issue in the meeting.
Adjust	Please adjust the temperature in the room.
Advance	The army advanced towards the enemy territory.
Advertise	The company decided to advertise on social media.
Advise	I advise you to reconsider your decision.
Agree	They agreed to meet at the park later.
Align	The manager helped align the team’s goals with the company’s mission.
Allege	He alleged that the company was responsible for the breach.
Analyze	The scientist analyzed the data thoroughly.
Annoy	His constant talking annoys everyone around him.
Answer	She quickly answered the question in class.
Anticipate	We anticipate a large turnout for the event.
Appear	She appeared tired after the long trip.
Apply	I will apply for a scholarship next semester.
Appoint	The manager will appoint a new team leader.
Appraise	The experts will appraise the value of the painting.
Approve	The council approved the new policy last night.
Arise	New challenges arise every day in this job.
Arrive	They arrived at the station just in time.
Ascertain	We need to ascertain the cause of the problem.
Assemble	They assembled the pieces of the puzzle together.
Assess	The teacher will assess your progress at the end of the week.
Assign	She will assign a partner for the project.

Few More Examples:

Assist	I’m here to assist you with your work.
Associate	He associated the smell with his childhood home.
Assume	Don’t assume that everyone knows the rules.
Assure	I can assure you that I will be there on time.
Attach	Attach the file to the email before sending it.
Attempt	He attempted to climb the mountain but failed.
Attain	She finally attained the level of success she wanted.
Attract	Bright flowers attract bees and butterflies.
Auction	They will auction the painting next week.
Authorize	The manager will authorize the budget increase.
Awaken	The loud noise awakened me from my sleep.
Afford	Can you afford to buy that new car?
Allot	The teacher will allot each student a specific task.
Alarm	The fire drill alarms everyone at first.
Amplify	The speaker used a microphone to amplify his voice.
Angle	He tried to angle his approach to gain an advantage.
Applaud	The audience applauded the performance.
Appreciate	I really appreciate your patience and help.
Avail	She didn’t avail herself of the opportunity.

This expanded table provides a broader range of verbs that start with the letter A and example sentences to illustrate their usage. By integrating these verbs into your vocabulary, you’ll be able to enhance both your writing and communication skills.

Common Types of Verbs That Start with A

In the English language, action verbs starting with A perform different functions depending on the context. Let’s explore the types of verbs that begin with A:

Action Verbs Beginning with A

These verbs describe specific actions performed by the subject.

• Act – To perform an action or behave in a certain way.
• Admire – To regard someone or something with respect and appreciation.
• Advocate – To support or recommend a cause or idea.

State Verbs Beginning with A

These verbs express a state of being or condition, rather than an action.

• Appear – To become visible or evident.
• Acknowledge – To recognize the existence or validity of something.

Auxiliary Verbs Starting with A

While auxiliary verbs are not action words, they work alongside main verbs to express tense, mood, or voice.

• Am – A form of the verb “to be,” used with the present participle to describe actions in progress (e.g., I am going).

The Top 100 Commonly Used Verbs That Start with A

 
Here is a list of 100 commonly used verbs that start with A:

1. Accept
2. Achieve
3. Act
4. Adapt
5. Add
6. Admire
7. Admit
8. Advise
9. Advocate
10. Affect
11. Agree
12. Alert
13. Allow
14. Announce
15. Apologize
16. Apply
17. Appreciate
18. Approach
19. Approve
20. Argue
21. Arrange
22. Ask
23. Assert
24. Assess
25. Assist
26. Assume
27. Assure
28. Attach
29. Attack
30. Attempt
31. Attend
32. Attract
33. Avoid
34. Awake
35. Abandon
36. Absolve
37. Accelerate
38. Activate
39. Accuse
40. Accomplish
41. Accumulate
42. Achieve
43. Acquire
44. Adapt
45. Addiction
46. Address
47. Adjust
48. Advance
49. Advertise
50. Advise
51. Agree
52. Align
53. Allege
54. Analyze
55. Annoy
56. Answer
57. Anticipate
58. Appear
59. Apply
60. Appoint
61. Appraise
62. Approve
63. Arise
64. Arrive
65. Ascertain
66. Assemble
67. Assess
68. Assign
69. Assist
70. Associate
71. Assume
72. Assure
73. Attach
74. Attempt
75. Attain
76. Attract
77. Auction
78. Authorize
79. Awaken
80. Awful
81. Afford
82. Allot
83. Alarm
84. Amplify
85. Angle
86. Applaud
87. Appreciate
88. Avail
89. Achieve
90. Align
91. Allege
92. Amuse
93. Answer
94. Apprise
95. Apportion
96. Arise
97. Assail
98. Assent
99. Accommodate
100. Aggravate

This list of verbs starting with A spans across various contexts and can help enrich your vocabulary and communication.

Practical Applications of Verbs Starting with A

Verb Database

One way to learn and memorize verb words that start with A is by using a verb database. This is a collection of words that can be searched and sorted by categories, such as frequency, relevance, or type of verb.

For example, you could create a digital list of verbs that begin with the letter A to have easy access to them whenever you need them.

Interactive Learning

Interactive tools like quizzes, flashcards, and games help to make learning verbs with the letter A fun and engaging. These tools test your knowledge and encourage you to recall the verbs in different contexts.

Thematic Lists of Verbs

When learning verbs, grouping them into thematic lists can be highly beneficial. Thematic lists help you to see how verbs are used in different contexts, making it easier to remember them and understand their nuances. Here, we’ll explore various thematic categories of verbs that begin with the letter A. This way, you can not only enrich your vocabulary but also use these verbs more effectively in different situations.

1. Verbs Related to Communication

These verbs are crucial for expressing thoughts, giving directions, or conveying messages. They can be used in both formal and informal communication settings.

Verb	Example Sentence
Announce	The company will announce its new product line next week.
Advise	I advise you to double-check your work before submitting it.
Answer	She answered all the questions during the interview.
Assert	He asserted his opinion firmly during the debate.
Apologize	She apologized for the confusion caused by her email.
Argue	They argue about politics all the time.
Ask	He asked me for directions to the nearest restaurant.
Annoy	His constant interruptions annoy everyone in the meeting.

2. Verbs for Actions and Movement

Verbs in this category describe various physical and figurative actions, movements, or transitions.

Verb	Example Sentence
Act	She acted quickly to prevent the fire from spreading.
Arrive	They arrived at the airport just in time for their flight.
Advance	The army continued to advance toward the enemy’s position.
Attract	The brightly colored flowers attract bees and butterflies.
Achieve	She worked hard to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor.
Adapt	The animals adapted to their new environment after being relocated.
Accumulate	Over the years, he accumulated a vast amount of knowledge in his field.

3. Verbs for Emotional Expression

These verbs describe mental states, feelings, and emotions. They can help convey how someone feels or reacts to a situation.

Verb	Example Sentence
Admire	I admire her dedication to helping others.
Agitate	The news about the accident agitated everyone in the office.
Affect	The sad movie deeply affected him.
Allege	He alleged that the company had violated the agreement.
Anger	The unfair treatment angered the employees.
Appreciate	I really appreciate your kindness during this difficult time.
Anticipate	We anticipate a positive outcome for the project.

4. Verbs for Learning and Knowledge

These verbs are tied to gaining information, making decisions, or solving problems. They’re especially useful in academic, professional, or self-development contexts.

Verb	Example Sentence
Analyze	The scientist will analyze the data before making conclusions.
Assess	The manager will assess your progress after the first quarter.
Ask	I asked for clarification on the report.
Ascertain	We need to ascertain the root cause of the issue.
Apply	You should apply the knowledge you gained from the workshop in your projects.
Accomplish	He accomplished everything he set out to do in the last year.
Acquire	She worked hard to acquire the skills necessary for the job.

5. Verbs for Helping and Supporting

These verbs describe actions that involve helping, supporting, or giving assistance to others.

Verb	Example Sentence
Assist	I will assist you in completing your assignment.
Advocate	She advocates for equal rights in the workplace.
Alleviate	The medicine helped to alleviate his headache.
Aid	The volunteers came to aid the survivors of the disaster.
Accommodate	The hotel will accommodate guests with support needs.
Attend	He will attend the conference to learn more about the latest trends.
Appeal	The charity appealed to the public for donations.

6. Verbs for Creating and Making

This category focuses on verbs related to creation, construction, or any form of making or building something.

Verb	Example Sentence
Arrange	She will arrange the flowers for the wedding ceremony.
Activate	The button will activate the system when pressed.
Appoint	They will appoint a new manager for the department next week.
Assemble	The team will assemble the new furniture this afternoon.
Alter	He decided to alter his presentation to include more visual aids.
Amend	The contract needs to be amended before it can be signed.
Affix	Affix the stamp to the envelope before mailing it.

7. Verbs for Social Interaction and Relationships

These verbs describe interactions, connections, or exchanges between people, reflecting aspects of social life.

Verb	Example Sentence
Acquaint	He acquainted himself with the new system.
Appease	The manager tried to appease the angry customers.
Amuse	The clown amused the children at the party.
Associate	She likes to associate with positive, motivated people.
Attract	Her charm and beauty attract many admirers.
Ally	They decided to ally with the rival company to boost their resources.
Adore	I adore spending time with my family on weekends.

8. Verbs for Changing or Transforming

Verbs in this list focus on actions that involve changing or transforming something in a literal or metaphorical sense.

Verb	Example Sentence
Alter	She decided to alter the design to fit the client’s requirements.
Adjust	You need to adjust the brightness on the screen.
Adapt	The company has to adapt to the changing market.
Affect	The new law will likely affect many small businesses.
Ascertain	Before making a decision, we need to ascertain all the facts.
Accommodate	The new hotel design will accommodate more guests.
Assume	He assumed that everyone knew the new schedule.

9. Verbs for Negative and Cautionary Actions

These verbs are often used to describe situations where things are being avoided, restrained, or restricted.

Verb	Example Sentence
Avoid	We should avoid taking unnecessary risks.
Abandon	The hikers had to abandon their journey due to the storm.
Allege	He alleged that the company was involved in fraud.
Anger	His rude comments angered everyone in the room.
Avert	Quick action helped to avert the crisis.
Assault	He was charged with assault after the altercation.
Aggravate	The loud noise will only aggravate his headache.

Writing Assistance with Verbs Starting with A

Using verbs that start with A in your writing can make your work more dynamic and engaging. For example, instead of simply saying “He did something,” you could say “He acted swiftly” or “He achieved his goal.”

Tips for Using Verbs Effectively:

• Vary Your Sentence Structure: Don’t just rely on basic sentences. Mix in complex ones, such as “She acknowledged her mistake and applied the necessary changes.”
• Be Specific: Use verbs like “adapt” and “advocate” when you want to convey a stronger sense of purpose or action.
• Use Active Voice: Verbs starting with A can help you form active sentences that are more direct and engaging. For example, “She acted quickly” is stronger than “The action was done by her quickly.”

Positive Verbs Starting with A

Many verbs that begin with A convey positive actions and emotions. For instance, words like appreciate, advance, and adore are uplifting verbs that are useful for expressing positivity and respect.

Examples of Positive Verbs:

• Adore – She adores her pet.
• Admire – I admire your dedication.
• Appreciate – He appreciates the support you gave him.

Can There Be Two Main Verbs in a Sentence?

Yes, a sentence can have two main verbs, and understanding how they function together is important for mastering sentence structure. This can happen in different scenarios, such as when verbs are connected by conjunctions or used with auxiliary verbs. Let’s dive into how two main verbs work in a sentence and explore various examples.

1. Conjunctions Connecting Two Main Verbs

One of the most common ways two main verbs appear in a sentence is through the use of coordinating conjunctions. These conjunctions link words, phrases, or clauses that are of equal importance or structure. In this case, the conjunction connects two main verbs to describe two actions performed by the subject.

Examples:

• She runs and jumps every morning.
  In this sentence, both runs and jumps are main verbs connected by the coordinating conjunction “and.” Both verbs describe actions that the subject (she) performs.
• I like and dislike different types of music.
  Here, like and dislike are main verbs that express the subject’s actions or preferences. The conjunction “and” links them, showing that both actions happen in the same context.

When two main verbs are connected by a conjunction, each verb still maintains its full meaning and grammatical function. The sentence remains clear and straightforward, even with two verbs.

2. Using Auxiliary Verbs with Main Verbs

Another instance in which two main verbs appear in a sentence is when an auxiliary verb (also known as a helping verb) is paired with a main verb. In this case, the auxiliary verb helps express various tenses, moods, or voices, while the main verb carries the primary action or meaning.

Examples:

• I am running every day to improve my health.
  In this sentence, am is the auxiliary verb, and running is the main verb. While am doesn’t represent the main action, it helps form the present continuous tense and shows the ongoing nature of the action.
• She has eaten all the cookies.
  Here, has is the auxiliary verb, and eaten is the main verb. The auxiliary verb helps indicate that the action (eating) has already been completed.

When auxiliary verbs are used, they help clarify the tense, aspect, or modality of the main verb but don’t replace it. The main verb still carries the core meaning of the sentence.

3. Verb Phrases with Modal Verbs

Modal verbs such as can, should, might, and will can also combine with other verbs to create verb phrases. The modal verb is the auxiliary verb, and the second verb (in its base form) is the main verb that expresses the action.

Examples:

• She will dance at the competition tomorrow.
  In this case, will is the modal auxiliary verb, and dance is the main verb expressing the subject’s action.
• They can swim well.
  The modal verb can helps express ability, and swim is the main verb that describes the action the subject can perform.

In these cases, the combination of the modal verb and the main verb creates a specific meaning, such as expressing possibility, necessity, or future intention.

4. Compound Sentences and Main Verbs

Another way to have two main verbs in a sentence is through the use of a compound sentence. A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction (such as “and,” “but,” or “or”). Each independent clause contains its own subject and verb, so you can have two sets of main verbs.

Examples:

• She studied for the exam, and he prepared the presentation.
  In this compound sentence, the first clause has the main verb studied, and the second clause has the main verb prepared. Both actions are linked with the conjunction “and.”
• I will go to the store, but he will stay at home.
  Here, go and stay are the main verbs in their respective independent clauses, and they’re connected by “but,” showing a contrast in actions.

In compound sentences, the conjunction allows two independent clauses to function together while each maintaining its own subject-verb structure.

5. Subordinate Clauses and Two Main Verbs

Sometimes, two main verbs can appear in sentences with subordinate clauses, where one clause depends on the main clause to make sense. The subordinate clause can contain a second verb that adds additional information, showing an action connected to the main subject or verb.

Examples:

• She reads a book while cooking dinner.
  In this example, reads is the main verb in the independent clause, and cooking is the main verb in the subordinate clause. The subordinate clause adds information to what the subject is doing.
• He was writing an email when I called him.
  Here, the main verbs are was writing and called. The first part of the sentence describes an ongoing action (writing), while the second verb (called) shows an action that interrupts the first.

6. Verb Agreement with Two Main Verbs

When you have two main verbs in a sentence, it’s important to maintain subject-verb agreement. The subject of the sentence should agree with the main verb in terms of number (singular or plural), even when two verbs are involved.

Examples:

• They eat lunch together and talk about their day.
  In this case, eat and talk agree with the plural subject they.
• He plays the guitar and sings at the same time.
  Here, both verbs plays and sings are in agreement with the singular subject he.

How to Identify Verbs in a Sentence

To identify a verb, look for a word that shows action, state, or occurrence. The verb typically answers the question: What is the subject doing?

For example:

• She acts brilliantly in the play.
  • Here, acts is the verb because it describes the subject’s action.

Verb Starting with A in Different Tenses

Verbs that start with A can be conjugated in different tenses to reflect the time of action. For example:

• Present: I ask for help.
• Past: He asked for assistance.
• Future: They will ask for clarification.

Summary of the Top 10 Commonly Used Verbs That Start with A

To summarize, here are the top 10 commonly used verbs starting with A:

1. Accept
2. Achieve
3. Act
4. Adapt
5. Ask
6. Apply
7. Advocate
8. Admire
9. Admit
10. Agree

These verbs are useful in a wide range of contexts, from business to personal communication, and mastering them will improve your fluency.

Conclusion

Verbs that start with A play a significant role in both writing and speech. They help convey actions, states, and occurrences, making them essential tools for effective communication. By understanding and incorporating verbs with the letter A into your vocabulary, you can enhance your language skills and express yourself more precisely.

Whether you’re looking to improve your writing, expand your vocabulary, or simply learn new verbs, mastering verbs that start with A is an excellent way to advance your understanding of the English language.