Power Verbs in English

What are power verbs?

Power verbs are action words that have positive meanings in English.
When you use a power verb, you can communicate your message more
strongly and confidently than when using other verbs. This is especially
useful when you are applying for a job and want to appear as a confident
and competent candidate. Power verbs can also make your writing more
interesting and help prevent you from the same words too many times.

The following sentences are examples from the Work Experience section of
a resume. Notice the difference between the sentences.
Made new software for ABC Company.  Made is a weaker verb.

Developed new software for ABC Company.  Developed is a power verb. You
sound more confident and interesting using “developed”

Where can I use power verbs?

Power verbs are useful in many situations. They are especially great for
resumes, job interviews, and academic writing like essays.

Before you use a power verb …

 Make sure you understand the exact meaning of the power verb you are
going to use. You don’t want to make a mistake with the word, especially
on a resume.
 Look the word up in a dictionary, search the internet for examples of
sentences where it has been used, and if possible, find someone to check
your sentence to make sure that you’ve used it correctly.

 Make sure you are comfortable with the word before you use it.

Weak verbs to avoid: 

Here is a list of verbs you should avoid on your resume where

possible:

Did Look Said Start

Make Take Told Finish
Use Keep Talk
Get Have Change

GENERAL POWER VERB LIST

Here are some better alternatives to common weak words.

Weak word: DID

Act Apple Conduct Handle

Activate Arrange Execute Perform
Administer Carry out Facilitate

Weak word: MAKE

Assemble Develop Fashion Synthesize

Compose Devise Formulate
Create Engineer Generate
Design Establish Produce
 Weak word: FIX

Alleviate Detected Remedied Solved

Amended Diagnosed Repaired Synthesized
Debugged Investigated Revitalized Streamline

Weak word: SHOW

Demonstrate Describe Highlight Portray
Depict Exhibit Illustrate Represent

Weak Words: TALK, SPEAK, WRITE, COMMUNICATE

Addressed Consulted Explained Present
Advocate Collaborate Highlight Publicize
Briefed Correspond Inform Report
Communicate Disseminate Instruct Specify
Composed Edited Interact Verify
Convince Educated Negotiate Welcome

Weak Word: KEEP

Ensure Maintain Strengthen

Weak Word: USE

Operate

Weak Word: GET

Achieve Obtain Procure
 Weak Word: CHANGE, MAKE SOMETHING BETTER, GET RESULTS
Accelerate Convert Heighten Recognize for (passive verb = “is/was recognized for”)
Accomplish Decrease Improve Reduce
Achieve Eliminate Increase Transform
Alter Expand Minimize
Award Excel Maximize
Attain Generate Receive

POWER VERBS FOR SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES

Here are some power verbs we often use when talking about our experience in
certain jobs and industries. This is not a complete list of power verbs. I have
covered some of the most common power verbs in the list below, but there are
many more. Please note that the same power verbs can be used for many
different jobs, so if you see a power verb in one job category such as medicine,
it may also apply to a different job too.

Customer Service, Tourism, Hospitality, Retail Store

Accommodate
Address
Advertise
Advise
Aid
Anticipate
Answer
Assist
Assure
Clarify
Communicate
Distribute
Document
Exhibit
Explain
Handle
Help
Interact
Listen
Promote
Resolve
Support
Target
Translate
Welcome

Law & Legal Professions

Advocate
Amend
Analyze
Arbitrated
Extracted
Interviewed
Investigate
Lobby
Mediate
Negotiate
Represent
Specify

Leader & Management

Allocate
Approve
Assess
Assign
Authorize
Chair
Consolidate
Convince
Coordinate
Delegate
Direct
Encourage
Enforce
Guide
Head
Hire
Lead
Manage
Monitor
Orchestrate
Oversee
Recommend
Resolve
Run
Supervise
Spearhead

Business, Finance, Accounting

Account for
Anticipate
Appraise
Assess
Audit
Bargain
Budget
Demonstrate
Distribute
Estimate
Evaluate
Finance
Forecast
Fundraise
Identify
Implement
Inventory
Market
Measure
Negotiate
Project
Provide
Purchase
Record
Report
Streamline
Tabulate
Target
Total

Public Sector & Government

Accommodate
Advise
Allocate
Appoint
Authorize
Budget
Commission
Consult
Estimate
Evaluate
Finance
Identify
Implement
Institute
Issue
Officiate
Promote
Negotiate
Regulate
Represent
Sanction
Specify

Administrative, Clerical, Receptionist, Secretary

Administer
Answer
Aide
Assist
Arrange
Balance
Catalog
Categorize
Classify
Collect
Coordinate
Distribute
Edit
File
Format
Handle
Issue
Order
Organize
Prepare
Record
Retrieve
Report
Schedule

Teaching & Advising

Assist
Coach
Encourage
Evaluate
Foster
Educated
Empower
Encourage
Explained
Guide
Highlight
Inform
Instruct
Prepare
Present
Promote
Supplement
Taught

Researcher, Scientist, Academic

Acquire
Analyze
Classify
Collaborate
Collect
Compile
Conduct
Consult
Discover
Examine
Formulate
Identify
Interpret
Interview
Lecture
Measure
Publish
Review
Share
Study
Uncover
IT, Computers, Tech
Brainstorm
Collaborate
Compile
Compute
Consult
Convert
Debugged
Detect
Determine
Develop
Fix
Format
Identify
Implement
Innovate
Launch
Program
Retrieve
Track
Transmit
Verify
Medicine
Advise
Care
Collaborate
Counsel
Detect
Determine
Diagnose
Dispense
Identify
Provide
Rehabilitate
Treat

Engineer
Assess
Collaborate
Construct
Convert
Develop
Draft
Draw
Engineer
Implement
Innovate
Regulate

Machine Operator
Inspect
Install
Manufacture
Operate
Prepare
Repair