Verbs of Movement and Action

Verbs of Movement and Action

• Walking: Includes various nuanced meanings:

  • walk about: moving casually without direction
  • walk away: leaving a situation, often to avoid conflict
  • walk away with: winning something easily
  • walk back: returning to a place on foot
  • walk in: entering a place casually or unexpectedly
  • walk into: entering a place, often by mistake
  • walk off: leaving suddenly, often angrily
  • walk off with: stealing something
  • walk on: continuing to walk without stopping
  • walk out: leaving suddenly, often in protest
  • walk out on: abandoning someone or something
  • walk over: treating someone poorly, taking advantage
  • walk through: practicing or explaining step-by-step
  • walk up: approaching on foot
  • walk up to: coming closer on foot
  • walk a mile in someone's shoes: trying to understand their perspective
  • walk all over someone: treating someone poorly
  • walk arm in arm: walking closely, linked arms

• Going: Often implies a purpose or destination:

  • go about: starting/continuing an action
  • go after: pursuing something
  • go against: opposing something
  • go ahead: proceeding or starting
  • go along: accompanying someone/agreeing
  • go along with: agreeing to a plan
  • go around: circulating or spreading
  • go away: leaving/disappearing
  • go back: returning to a place/state
  • go back on: breaking a promise
  • go by: passing in time/relying on guidance
  • go down: decreasing, happening, being remembered
  • go down with: becoming ill
  • go for: trying to achieve or choose
  • go in: entering a place
  • go in for: participating in, showing interest
  • go off: exploding, making a noise, malfunctioning
  • go on: continuing, happening
  • go out: leaving a place or socializing
  • go over: reviewing/examining
  • go through: experiencing something difficult/searching thoroughly
  • go under: failing, becoming bankrupt
  • go up: increasing/being built
  • go with: matching or suiting
  • go without: managing without something

• Coming: Implying movement towards a point:

  • come about: happening, occurring
  • come across: encountering by chance
  • come after: pursuing someone
  • come along: accompanying, showing progress
  • come apart: breaking into pieces
  • come around: changing opinion, recovering consciousness
  • come back: returning to a place/situation
  • come back to: being remembered or revisited
  • come by: obtaining or visiting briefly
  • come down: decreasing, falling
  • come down on: criticizing harshly
  • come down with: becoming ill
  • come forward: volunteering oneself
  • come from: originating
  • come in: entering a place/arriving
  • come into: inheriting/acquiring something
  • come off: succeeding/detaching
  • come on: encouraging, indicating progress
  • come out: being revealed/published
  • come over: visiting someone/being overwhelmed
  • come through: successfully completing/delivering
  • come to: regaining consciousness/reaching a decision
  • come up: being mentioned/arising
  • come up with: thinking of a solution

• Other Verb Groups:

  • Hanging, Keeping, Doing, Giving, Making, Getting, Finding, Setting, Carrying, Putting, Cutting, Selling, Sending, Catching, Bringing, Holding, Laying, Picking, Playing, Tying, Standing, Slipping, Showing, Sitting, Shooting, Running, Stopping, Staying, Knocking, Flying, Rubbing, Stepping, Having, Passing, Packing, Filling, Throwing, Rolling, Starting, Moving, Ringing.

Additional Notes

• Many verbs have multiple meanings. Context is crucial for understanding the intended meaning in a sentence.
• Idiomatic expressions often involve these verbs and their nuances. e.g. walk the walk, walk the plank.