Transitive Verbs

What are Transitive Verbs

Transitive verbs are not as difficult as they sound. Simply put, transitive verbs are the kinds of verbs that rely on a noun, or a pronoun to explain the action. These verbs are directly or indirectly done to something or someone, meaning that a verb is transitive if it has a receiver. For example:

– I chased a butterfly.
In this sentence, the transitive verb is chased as it has a direct object i.e. butterfly that completed the action.

– She admires nature.
The transitive verb in this sentence is admires for it depends on the object i.e. nature. Had this sentence been without the object, i.e. She admires, then the transitive verb turns into an action verb.


Sometimes, transitive verbs depend on more than one object and refer to them directly and indirectly. So the sentence takes the pattern of the transitive verb-indirect object-direct object. For example:

– She sent her a present.
Sent is the transitive verb, Her is the indirect object, and Present is the direct object.

– He gave me a flower.
Gave is the transitive verb, Me is the indirect object, and Flower is the direct object.

List of Transitive Verbs

  • Accept
  • Acknowledge
  • Admit
  • Aggravate
  • Answer
  • Arrest
  • Ask
  • Avoid
  • Bash
  • Beat
  • Bend
  • Bite
  • Bless
  • Blow
  • Brother
  • Break
  • Brush
  • Build
  • Bump
  • Burn
  • Call
  • Cancel
  • Capture
  • Carry
  • Catch
  • Change
  • Charge
  • Chase
  • Chastise
  • Check
  • Chill
  • CleanC
  • lose
  • Clutch
  • Collect
  • Comfort
  • Copy
  • Correct
  • Cover
  • Crack
  • Cross
  • Cut
  • Dampen
  • Dash
  • Daze
  • Dazzle
  • Deceive
  • Define
  • Delay
  • Deny
  • Derail
  • Describe
  • Destroy
  • Dig
  • Discover
  • Discuss
  • Dismiss
  • Distinguish
  • Disturb
  • Drag
  • Draw
  • Dress
  • Drink
  • Drive
  • Drop
  • Drown
  • Dry
  • Dunk
  • Eat
  • Edify
  • Eject
  • Embarrass
  • Embrace
  • Empower
  • Enable
  • Enclose
  • Encourage
  • Enjoy
  • Enlighten
  • Enlist
  • Entertain
  • Escort
  • Examine
  • Excite
  • Excuse
  • Execute
  • Fascinate
  • Feed
  • Feel
  • Fight
  • File
  • Fill
  • Find
  • Finish
  • Fire
  • Fix
  • Flick
  • Flip
  • Follow
  • Force
  • Forget
  • Forgive
  • Freeze
  • Frighten
  • Fry
  • Furnish
  • Gather
  • Get
  • Grab
  • Grasp
  • Grip
  • Handle
  • Hang
  • Have
  • Head
  • Help
  • Hide
  • Highlight
  • Hit
  • Hoist
  • Hold
  • Honour
  • Hug
  • Hump
  • Hurry
  • Hurt
  • Imitate
  • Impress
  • Include
  • Indulge
  • Inform
  • Insert
  • Inspect
  • Inspire
  • Insure
  • Interest
  • Interrupt
  • Interview
  • Intimidate
  • Involve
  • Irritate
  • Join
  • Jolt
  • Judge
  • Keep
  • Key
  • Kick
  • Kill
  • Kiss
  • Knock
  • Lag
  • Lay
  • Lead
  • Lean
  • Leave
  • Let
  • Lick
  • Lift
  • Light
  • Lighten
  • Limit
  • Link
  • List
  • Load
  • Lock
  • Lose
  • Love
  • Lower
  • Maintain
  • Make
  • Mark
  • Marry
  • Message
  • Melt
  • Mix
  • Mock
  • Move
  • Munch
  • Murder
  • Name
  • Notice
  • Number
  • Nurse
  • Offend
  • Open
  • Order
  • Own
  • Pack
  • Page
  • Park
  • Pass
  • Pay
  • Pick
  • Pin
  • Place
  • Play
  • Question
  • Quit
  • Raid
  • Rise
  • Read
  • Refill
  • Relax
  • Remind
  • Remove
  • Replace
  • Retire
  • Ride
  • Ring
  • Run
  • Satisfy
  • Save
  • Scan
  • Seat
  • See
  • Select
  • Sell
  • Send
  • Snake
  • Smoke
  • Sound
  • Start
  • Stay
  • Stop
  • Tape
  • Taste
  • Teach
  • Tend
  • Test
  • Thank
  • Throw
  • Tickle
  • Tie
  • Toss
  • Try
  • Turn
  • Understand
  • Unlock
  • Upgrade
  • Use
  • Vilify
  • Violate
  • Wake
  • Want
  • Warm
  • Warn
  • Wash
  • Watch
  • Wear
  • Widen
  • Win
  • Warp