500 common business verbs

by Andrew D. Miles
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

500
Business
Verbs
Copy right by And re w D. M il es, Ba rcel ona , 2007.
All rights rese rved . No pa rt of this p ubl ica tion
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitte d, in any form without
written authorization from the author.
Cove r p hotograp h by And re w D. M iles

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Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

amortize or amortise amortizar,

depreciar

amount sumar
abandon abandonar

analyse analizar

abate 1. suprimir 2. rebajar

announce anunciar

abrogate revocar, rescindir

absorb absorber
accelerate acelerar, adelantar
accept aceptar

appeal apelar
appoint designar, nombrar
apportion asignar, repartir,
prorratear
appraise 1. tasar, valorar, valuar
2. evaluar 3. peritar

accrue 1. acumular 2. devengar,

periodificar

appreciate apreciar, valorizar

accumulate acumular
acquire adquirir

arrange compaginar, organizar,

ordenar

add 1. sumar 2. agregar

assign asignar, adjudicar, traspasar

adjourn retrasar, aplazar

attach 1. adjuntar, anexar

2. embargar, incautar, decomisar

adjust 1. ajustar 2. liquidar

administer administrar, gestionar,
dirigir

approve aprobar

attend asistir, atender

attest certificar, atestar

administrate administrar, gestionar,

dirigir

authenticate autentificar,
autenticar, refrendar

advertise anunciar, publicitar

authorize or authorise autorizar,

habilitar, acreditar

advise 1. asesorar, aconsejar

2. avisar
affiliate afiliar
age clasificar segn antigedad,
anticuar
agree acordar, pactar, convenir
aid ayudar, subvencionar

automate automatizar, sistematizar

award 1. adjudicar 2. conceder,
otorgar

allocate asignar, afectar, distribuir

back respaldar

allot asignar, dotar

back up 1. hacer copias de

seguridad 2. respaldar

allow 1. permitir 2. reservar

3. descontar
alter alterar

balance balancear, cuadrar,

saldar

amalgamate fusionar, amalgamar

bargain 1. regatear 2. pactar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

barter permutar, canjear

catalogue or catalog catalogar

bear devengar, rendir, producir,

redituar

centralize or centralise centralizar

certify certificar

benefit beneficiar

change cambiar

bequeath legar

cheapen abaratar

berth atracar amarrar

claim reclamar, demandar

bid ofrecer, pujar (en una

licitacin, concurso, subasta, etc.)

classify clasificar

bill facturar

close cerrar, cesar, clausurar

coadministrate coadministrar

block bloquear, congelar,

inmovilizar
board embarcar

code codificar
codify codificar
coin acuar

bond caucionar
book 1. reservar 2. asentar
bottle embotellar

coinsure coasegurar
collect cobrar, recaudar
collocate colocar

boycott boicotear
break even 1. llegar al punto de
equilibrio 2. estar en una situacin
en que los gastos son iguales que
los ingresos
break up 1. separar, dividir
2. desguazar

comanage coadministrar, codirigir

combine combinar, consolidar,
mancomunar
commercialize or commercialise
comercializar

bribe sobornar

commission comisionar, dar en

comisin, encargar

budget presupuestar

communicate comunicar

buy comprar

compensate 1. compensar
2. indemnizar

compete competir
complain quejarse, reclamar
compound combinar

calculate calcular

compute computar, calcular

call llamar, convocar

cancel cancelar, anular, rescindir
cannibalize or cannibalise
canibalizar
capitalize or capitalise capitalizar

conceal ocultar
condone condonar
confiscate confiscar, decomisar,
comisar, incautar

carry transportar

conform conformar, aprobar,

autorizar

cast 1. fundir 2. colar, vaciar

consign consignar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

consolidate consolidar, fusionar

defalcate desfalcar

consume consumir

defer diferir, aplazar

contract contratar

deflate deflactar
deforest deforestar

contribute contribuir, aportar

control controlar
convey 1. transportar 2. transferir,
traspasar

defraud defraudar, estafar

delay retrasar, atrasar
delegate delegar

coordinate coordinar

delete borrar

copy copiar

deliver remitir, enviar, expedir,

despachar

corner monopolizar, acaparar

cost costar, valer

demonetize or demonetise
desmonetizar

counsel asesorar, aconsejar

demote degradar

count contar, arquear

counterbid contraofertar

denationalize or denationalise
desnacionalizar

counteroffer contraofertar

deplete agotar

credit abonar, acreditar, imputar,

registrar en el haber

deregulate liberalizar, desregular

cumulate acumular

design disear

customize or customise personalizar

devaluate devaluar

cut cortar, rebajar

devalue devaluar, desvalorizar

derive derivar

deviate desviar

digitalize or digitalise digitalizar

digitize or digitise digitalizar

damage daar, averiar

dilute diluir

date 1. fechar, poner fecha, datar

2. citar

diminish disminuir, mermar,

decrecer

deal traficar, tratar, comerciar

direct dirigir, administrar

decapitalize or decapitalise
descapitalizar

disburse desembolsar

decentralize or desentralise
descentralizar

dismiss despedir

decide decidir

display exhibir, mostrar

dispossess desahuciar, desalojar

declare declarar
decode descifrar, descodificar
decree decretar

disconnect desconectar

dissolve disolver, liquidar

distribute distribuir, repartir
divest desinvertir

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

dock atracar

exchange cambiar, intercambiar

document documentar

execute ejecutar

draft 1. realizar en borrador, hacer

un esquema 2. delinear, dibujar

exhibit exhibir, exponer

draw 1. dibujar 2. girar, librar 3. retirar

4. devengar, producir

expand expandir
expire 1. caducar 2. vencer,
prescribir
exploit explotar

expose exponer
expropriate expropiar

earn 1. ganar, percibir 2. devengar,

producir

extend 1. extender, ampliar

2. conceder

economize or economise
economizar, ahorrar

extract extraer, resumir

edit corregir un texto, redactar

embargo embargar

extrapolate extrapolar

employ emplear

empower delegar poder,

conceder poder, facultar,
capacitar, potenciar, habilitar

fabricate fabricar

enclose adjuntar
encode cifrar, codificar
encumber gravar, afectar
endorse endosar, avalar, respaldar
enlarge ampliar
enrol or enroll 1. v.t. inscribir,
matricular, registrar 2. v.i. inscribirse,
matricularse, registrarse.
enter registrar, asentar, apuntar,
inscribir
erase borrar

fail 1. fracasar, fallar 2. quebrar

fall bajar, caer
fall behind atrasarse.
fall due vencer
file archivar
finance financiar
fine multar
fire despedir
flop fallar, fracasar
flow fluir
fluctuate fluctuar, variar

erode erosionar
establish establecer

fold 1. cerrar o cesar operaciones

2. plegar, doblar

estimate presupuestar, tasar,

valorar, estimar

foreclose ejecutar

evade evadir

forge falsificar
found 1. fundar 2. fundir

evaluate evaluar
examine examinar, revisar

fragment fragmentar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

franchise dar en concesin o

franquicia, franquiciar
free liberar
freeze bloquear, inmovilizar,
congelar
function funcionar

indemnify indemnizar, compensar

index indexar
indorse endosar.
industrialize or industrialise
industrializar
inflate inflar

inform informar
inherit heredar

gain 1. incrementar, aumentar

2. beneficiarse
graduate 1. v.t. graduar
2. v.t. escalonar 3. v.i. graduarse,
recibirse, licenciarse, obtener el
ttulo universitario
grant 1. otorgar, conceder 2. donar
grow crecer

inject inyectar
input ingresar

J
join 1. v.i. incorporarse, asociarse,
unirse, hacerse socio, afiliarse
2. v.t. unir, juntar

guarantee garantizar, avalar

guard custodiar, cuidar, vigilar

K
key teclear

harvest cosechar
hedge proteger, cubrir

label etiquetar, rotular

help ayudar
highlight resaltar, destacar
hoard acaparar, acopiar
hold tener, poseer
hypothecate hipotecar, pignorar

labour or labor 1. trabajar, laborar

land 1. aterrizar 2. desembarcar
lapse prescribir, vencer, caducar
launch lanzar
launder blanquear, lavar, hacer
aflorar
lead liderar, dirigir
legalize or legalise legalizar

import importar

lend prestar

impose imponer

let arrendar, alquilar

increase aumentar, incrementar

limit limitar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

navigate navegar

link enlazar, vincular

negotiate negociar

liquidate liquidar

nominate nominar, nombrar,

designar

load cargar
loan prestar

note anotar, apuntar

log registrar

notice avisar, notificar

lose perder

notify notificar
nullify anular, invalidar

maintain mantener
make hacer
manage gestionar, administrar,
dirigir

object oponerse, objetar

occupy ocupar

manufacture fabricar,
manufacturar

offer ofrecer, ofertar

mark 1. marcar 2. poner nota,

calificar

offshore| deslocalizar

offset balancear, compensar

mature vencer, caducar

measure. medir
merchandise comercializar
merge fusionar, consolidar,
amalgamar
mint acuar
misappropriate malversar

open abrir
operate operar
optimize or optimise optimizar
organize or organise organizar
outlay desembolsar
overcapitalize or overcapitalise
sobrecapitalizar

mix mezclar

overdraw girar en descubierto,

sobregirar

monopolize or monopolise
monopolizar

overload sobrecargar

mortgage hipotecar

overproduce sobreproducir
overstate sobretasar, sobrevalorar

multiply multiplicar

overtrade comprar o vender en

demasa, comprometerse a
comprar o vender ms de lo que
se puede afrontar

N
name nombrar, nominar, designar
nationalize or nationalise
nacionalizar

overvaluate sobrevaluar
overvalue sobrevalorar,
sobrevaluar, sobretasar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

2.

print imprimir

pack 1. empaquetar, embalar

2. envasar

v.t.

private privado, particular

privatize or privatise privatizar
process procesar

participate participar
pass 1. v.i. aprobar 2.
pasar

preestrenar, avanzar

transferir,

procure comprar, adquirir, obtener

pawn empear

produce 1. producir 2. redituar,

rendir, devengar

pay back devolver, reembolsar

profit ganar, beneficiarse.

pay in 1. pagar, desembolsar 2.

depositar, ingresar
pay out pagar, desembolsar
pay up pagar una deuda, pagar
por completo, cancelar

program or programme programar

promote 1. promover, fomentar,
promocionar 2. ascender,
promocionar
prorate prorratear
protest protestar

pension jubilar
perform rendir, desempearse,
funcionar, actuar
place colocar, posicionar
plan planificar
plough back or plow back reinvertir
plough into or plow into invertir
polish pulir
poll sondear, encuestar
pollute contaminar
position posicionar, colocar
possess poseer

publish publicar
purchase comprar
purvey suministrar, proveer

Q
quote 1. cotizar 2. ofertar,
presupuestar

post 1. enviar por correo 2. asentar,

registrar 3. anunciar, publicar

raise 1. aumentar, incrementar

2. recaudar

postpone posponer, prorrogar,

aplazar

rate 1. calificar, evaluar 2. tasar,

valorar

power propulsar

rationalize or rationalise racionalizar

prefabricate prefabricar

reacquire readquirir, recomprar

prefinance prefinanciar

readjust reajustar

preliminary preliminar

recapitalize or recapitalise
recapitalizar

prescribe prescribir
preview 1. ver previamente

reconcile conciliar, reconciliar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

record 1. registrar, asentar 2. grabar

recover recuperar, rescatar
recruit reclutar, contratar

restate 1. redefinir 2. tasar o valorar

de nuevo, actualizar
restrict restringir
restructure reestructurar, reconvertir

recycle reciclar
redeploy reubicar, recolocar
rediscount redescontar
reduce reducir, rebajar
reexport reexportar

result resultar
retain retener
revaluate revaluar
revalue revaluar
reverse invertir, revertir

refinance refinanciar
reimburse reintegrar, reembolsar
reimport reimportar

revise revisar
revoke revocar
rise aumentar, incrementar, alzar

reinsure reasegurar
release 1. liberar 2. estrenar, lanzar

risk arriesgar

relocate reubicar, recolocar

robotize or robotise instalar robots,

robotizar

remit remitir, remesar

rotate rotar, girar

remunerate remunerar

round off redondear

render rendir, presentar, exponer

rule dictaminar, fallar

renegotiate renegociar

run 1. v.t. dirigir, administrar,

gestionar, manejar 2. v.t. poner en
funcionamiento, hacer funcionar 3.
v.t. ejecutar 4. v.i. funcionar

renew renovar
reorganize or reorganise reorganizar
repay reintegrar, devolver,
reembolsar
replace 1. reemplazar, sustituir
2. reponer
reply responder

save 1. ahorrar, economizar 2. salvar

3. guardar

represent representar
reproduce reproducir
reprogram reprogramar
repurchase recomprar
request solicitar, pedir
rescind rescindir
rescue rescatar

S
schedule planificar, programar,
proyectar
seal sellar
second secundar
segment segmentar
segregate segregar, separar

reserve reservar

seize secuestrar, confiscar,

decomisar, embargar, incautar

resign renunciar

sell off liquidar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

send enviar, remitir

subcontract subcontratar

settle 1. acordar, fijar 2. saldar,

liquidar, cancelar

sublease subalquilar, subarrendar

sublet subalquilar, subarrendar

settle up saldar cuentas, pagar

subscribe suscribir

share participar, compartir

subtract restar, deducir

ship remitir, despachar

sue demandar

shop comprar

sum sumar, totalizar

shorthand taquigrafiar

summon convocar, citar, emplazar

show mostrar, exponer, exhibir

supervise supervisar

smuggle contrabandear
sort clasificar

supply abastecer, aprovisionar,

suministrar

specialize or specialise
especializarse.

support 1. apoyar, respaldar 2.

mantener

speculate especular

surcharge recargar, sobrecargar

spend gastar

survey 1. encuestar 2. relevar,

peritar, reconocer, estudiar

spin hilar

suspend suspender

split dividir
sponsor auspiciar, patrocinar,
promover
square 1. cuadrar 2. elevar al
cuadrado 3. cancelar, saldar
squeeze restringir
stamp 1. sellar, timbrar 2. estampar,
imprimir
standardize or standardise
estandarizar, normalizar
staple grapar, engrapar
stock almacenar, tener en
existencias
stockpile acopiar

sustain mantener, sostener

swap intercambiar
systematize or systematise
sistematizar

T
tag 1. etiquetar 2. codificar
take on contratar
tally hacer que algo cuadre, hacer
que algo concuerde, cuadrar
tax gravar
telecommute teletrabajar

store almacenar

telephone telefonear

streamline racionalizar
strike declararse en huelga, ir a la
huelga, parar

tend tender
terminate terminar, rescindir

structure estructurar

test 1. examinar 2. ensayar, probar

study estudiar

total totalizar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

totalize or totalise totalizar

trader traficante, comerciante,
mercader
traffic traficar
train 1. entrenar, adiestrar 2. instruir,
formar, capacitar

W
warrant 1. justificar 2. garantizar,
asegurar
waste malgastar, desperdiciar

transcribe transcribir

watch vigilar, custodiar

translate 1. traducir 2. convertir 3.

trasladar

water diluir

travel viajar

weigh pesar

treat tratar

will legar

turn over rotar, girar

wind up cerrar, cesar operaciones,

liquidar

type mecanografiar

wear 1. v.t. usar 2. v.t. y v.i. desgastar

wire telegrafiar
withhold 1. retener 2. denegar

write escribir

underestimate 1. subvalorar,
infravalorar, calcular por debajo
del importe real 2. subestimar
underuse infrautilizar

write down 1. reducir el valor,

devaluar 2. apuntar, anotar
write in agregar, incluir

undervalue subvaluar, subvalorar

unionize or unionise sindicalizar,

agremiar

yield 1. redituar, rendir 2. producir

unload descargar

update actualizar
upload cargar
utilize or utilise usar, usufructuar

zone dividir en zonas, zonificar,

calificar

V
validate legalizar, validar
valuate valuar, tasar
vary variar
veto vetar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

And re w D. M iles is the d irec tor of

English for Business Barcelona,
Engl ish for Business M adrid
and English Phone
English for Business Barcelona
teaches English lessons to
companies in the
Barcelona area.
English for Business M adrid
teaches English lessons to
companies in the
Madrid area.
English Phone provides lessons
by telephone to students who
want to improve their oral
communication skills

www.barcelonaenglish.com
www.madridenglish.net
www.englishphone.biz

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007