Sport actions vocabulary in English, covering common movements used in various sports to help you describe gameplay and techniques accurately.
This article introduces key sport actions vocabulary in English. It covers common movements used across different sports, such as running, jumping, throwing, and more. Each section provides example sentences to help you see how these action words are used in context.
Running & Movement
These are basic movement verbs used in almost every sport to describe how athletes move around the field, court, or track.
| English Verb | English Example | English Example (Translated) |
|---|---|---|
| run | I run every morning to stay fit. | I run every morning to stay fit. |
| sprint | She can sprint faster than anyone on the team. | She can sprint faster than anyone on the team. |
| jog | We jog around the park before practice. | We jog around the park before practice. |
| walk | The player walked off the field. | The player walked off the field. |
| skip | Kids love to skip during warm-ups. | Kids love to skip during warm-ups. |
| slide | He slid across the base to avoid being tagged. | He slid across the base to avoid being tagged. |
| dodge | The boxer dodged the punch quickly. | The boxer dodged the punch quickly. |
| leap | She leapt over the hurdle with ease. | She leapt over the hurdle with ease. |
| move | Move quickly to catch the ball! | Move quickly to catch the ball! |
| turn | Turn right after running 10 meters. | Turn right after running 10 meters. |
A los niños les encanta ___ durante el calentamiento.
Which verb means "to move by lifting your feet and alternating them rhythmically," often used to describe a playful or light step?
skip
"Skip" means to move forward by hopping alternately on each foot, often in a light and playful way.
Jumping & Elevation
These verbs describe actions where athletes leave the ground to reach higher or overcome obstacles.
| English Verb | English Example | English Example (Translated) |
|---|---|---|
| jump | He can jump very high. | He can jump very high. |
| leap | The cat leapt onto the windowsill. | The cat leapt onto the windowsill. |
| hop | She hopped on one foot during warm-up. | She hopped on one foot during warm-up. |
| spring | The gymnast sprang off the vault. | The gymnast sprang off the vault. |
| vault | He vaulted over the fence. | He vaulted over the fence. |
| bound | The deer bounded across the field. | The deer bounded across the field. |
| climb | They climbed the rock wall together. | They climbed the rock wall together. |
| rise | The ball rises high in the air. | The ball rises high in the air. |
| tiptoe | She tiptoed quietly around the room. | She tiptoed quietly around the room. |
| dunk | He dunked the basketball with power. | He dunked the basketball with power. |
Throwing & Striking
These verbs describe actions where the player uses their hands or equipment to propel or hit the ball or object.
| English Verb | English Example | English Example (Translated) |
|---|---|---|
| throw | Throw the ball to me! | Throw the ball to me! |
| pass | She passed the puck to her teammate. | She passed the puck to her teammate. |
| shoot | He shot the ball into the goal. | He shot the ball into the goal. |
| hit | The player hit the tennis ball hard. | The player hit the tennis ball hard. |
| strike | The boxer struck with a strong right hook. | The boxer struck with a strong right hook. |
| serve | She serves first in the tennis match. | She serves first in the tennis match. |
| punt | He punted the football down the field. | He punted the football down the field. |
| lob | He lobbed the ball over the net. | He lobbed the ball over the net. |
| swing | Swing the bat with all your strength. | Swing the bat with all your strength. |
| volley | She volleyed the ball back quickly. | She volleyed the ball back quickly. |
Ella ___ el disco a su compañera de equipo.
Which verb means "to send the ball to a teammate during a game"?
passed
"Pass" means to intentionally send the ball to a teammate.
Catching & Receiving
These verbs describe how players take control of the ball or object during the game.
| English Verb | English Example | English Example (Translated) |
|---|---|---|
| catch | Catch the ball with both hands. | Catch the ball with both hands. |
| receive | He received the pass smoothly. | He received the pass smoothly. |
| intercept | The defender intercepted the throw. | The defender intercepted the throw. |
| block | The goalie blocked the powerful shot. | The goalie blocked the powerful shot. |
| grab | She grabbed the rebound quickly. | She grabbed the rebound quickly. |
| scoop | The player scooped the ball off the ground. | The player scooped the ball off the ground. |
| trap | Trap the ball with your foot. | Trap the ball with your foot. |
| secure | Secure the ball before making a pass. | Secure the ball before making a pass. |
| collect | The midfielder collected the loose ball. | The midfielder collected the loose ball. |
| clutch | He clutched the ball tightly under pressure. | He clutched the ball tightly under pressure. |
Body & Positioning
These verbs describe how athletes position or move their bodies during play.
| English Verb | English Example | English Example (Translated) |
|---|---|---|
| balance | Balance on one foot to improve stability. | Balance on one foot to improve stability. |
| bend | Bend your knees before jumping. | Bend your knees before jumping. |
| stretch | Stretch your arms before playing. | Stretch your arms before playing. |
| twist | Twist your torso to follow the ball. | Twist your torso to follow the ball. |
| lean | Lean forward to increase speed. | Lean forward to increase speed. |
| crouch | Crouch low to avoid the tackle. | Crouch low to avoid the tackle. |
| swing | Swing your arms to gain momentum. | Swing your arms to gain momentum. |
| roll | Roll your shoulders to warm up. | Roll your shoulders to warm up. |
| drop | Drop into a defensive stance quickly. | Drop into a defensive stance quickly. |
| lunge | Lunge forward to reach the ball. | Lunge forward to reach the ball. |
Game & Strategy
These verbs describe actions related to gameplay, strategy, and interaction between players.
| English Verb | English Example | English Example (Translated) |
|---|---|---|
| compete | They compete for the championship every year. | They compete for the championship every year. |
| challenge | The defender challenged the attacker. | The defender challenged the attacker. |
| score | He scored the winning goal in overtime. | He scored the winning goal in overtime. |
| win | Our team won the match easily. | Our team won the match easily. |
| lose | They lost by just one point. | They lost by just one point. |
| tie | The game ended in a tie. | The game ended in a tie. |
| foul | The player was called for a foul. | The player was called for a foul. |
| substitute | The coach substituted a new player. | The coach substituted a new player. |
| timeout | The team called a timeout to rest. | The team called a timeout to rest. |
| celebrate | They celebrated their victory together. | They celebrated their victory together. |
Él ___ el gol de la victoria en tiempo extra.
Which verb means "to successfully get the ball into the goal or scoring area"?
scored
"Score" means to earn points by getting the ball into the goal or designated area.
Conclusion
This article covered essential sport actions vocabulary in English, from basic movements like running and jumping to game-related actions like scoring and fouling. Understanding these verbs will help you describe sports more accurately and follow game commentary with confidence.
Flashcards (1 of 60)
- English Verb: run
- English Example: I run every morning to stay fit.
- English Example (Translated): I run every morning to stay fit.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
