Glossary Of Active Verbs For Use In Writing Or Amending Job Descriptions

B

Balances

• Arranges or proves so that the sum of one group equals the sum of another.

Batches

• Groups into a quantity for one operation; assembles or processes as a batch.

Binds

• Makes fast or secures; creates social or emotional ties.

Budgets

• Makes a summary of intended expenditures.

Buys

• Acquires possession, ownership or rights to the use of services, items.

C

Calculates

• Ascertains by computation.

Cancels

• Strikes or crosses out; postpones indefinitely.

Carries

• Moves while supporting in one’s arms (e.g. a child or a box) or on one’s body; has on one’s person.

Characterizes

• Portrays or describes qualities or peculiarities.

Charts

• Draws or exhibits in a chart or a graph; adds medical information to a patient’s record.

Checks

• Examines; compares for verification.

Circulates

• Disseminates; distributes in accordance with a plan.

Clarifies

• Makes clear and more comprehensible; removes impurities.

Classifies

• Separates into groups having systematic relations.

Cleans

• Removes unwanted substances, such as dirt; removes all contents from; removes husks or coverings.

Clears

• Obtains the concurrence, dissent or agreement of others prior to signature; removes, erases, evacuates, arranges.

Climbs

• Goes upward with gradual or continuous progress; advances; ascends stairs, ladders.

Closes

• Ends or terminates.

Codes

• Transposes words or figures into symbols or characters (letters or numbers).

Collaborates

• Works or acts jointly with others.

Collates

• Brings together in a pre-determined order.

Collects

• Gathers facts or data; assembles to accumulate.

Combines

• Puts or adds together; mixes to form a whole; joins for a common purpose.

Communicates

• Transmits information, thoughts or feeling; is in verbal contact.

Complies

• Collects into a volume; puts together from existing materials.

Completes

• Brings to a finish; carries out; writes all required information on a form.

Composes

• Makes up; fashions; arranges.

Computes

• Makes a mathematical calculation.

Conceives

• Formulates and expresses.

Conciliates

• Causes to be more favourably inclined; makes compatible with; comes to terms.

Conducts

• Directs the course of; leads; guides.

Confers

• Has a conference in order to talk something over.

Considers

• Observes or thinks about with regard to taking some action.

Consolidates

• Combines separate items into a single whole.

Constructs

• Sets in order mentally; arranges, builds, manufactures; creates a concept.

Consults

• Seeks advice of others; refers to; deliberates, confers.

Contributes

• Provides (information, or ideas); gives to some cause.

Controls

• Exercises directly; has guiding or retraining power.

Converts

• Changes the nature, purpose or function of something; changes from one system or plan to another.

Cooks

• Prepares a hot meal; makes suitable for consumption by heating.

Cooperates*

• Acts or operates jointly with others.

Coordinates

• Brings into common action; condition, etc.

Copies

• Makes copies of; transfers or reproduces information.

Corrects

• Rectifies; makes right.

Correlates

• Establishes a mutual or reciprocal relation.

Corresponds

• Coincides in their characteristics; exchanges messages.

Counsels

• Advises or consults; recommends.

Counts

• Recites or lists numbers in order or enumerate items by units or groups.

Creates

• Brings into existence; gives rise to; originates.

Cross-foot

• Adds across and horizontally.

Cross out

• Eliminates by lining out.

Customizes

• Makes to specifications and according to requirements.

D

Date Stamps

• Notes the date by stamping.

Decides*

• Chooses from among alternatives or possibilities so as to end debate or uncertainty.

Deciphers

• Converts code, complex data into ordinary language; reads possibly illegible notes with difficulty.

Defines

• Gives the definition of a word; determines the essential quality or nature of; delineates the form or outline of.

Delegates

• Entrusts to the care or management of another.

Deletes

• Erases; removes.

Delivers

• Sends or brings a desired object.

Demonstrates

• Provides evidence for; shows something to an audience.

Describes

• Gives an account of or representation in speech or writing ( e.g. treatment to patients); conveys an idea or impression of; characterizes, traces or outlines.

Designs

• Conceives and plans in the mind for a specific use; creates, fashions, executes, or constructs according to a plan.

Determines

• Fixes or settles conclusively or authoritatively; decides.

Develops

• Evolves; makes apparent; brings to light; makes more available or useable.

Devises

• Comes up with something new, especially by combining known ideas or principles.

Devotes

• Gives entirely to a specific person, activity or cause.

Directs

• Regulates the activities or course of; governs or controls; gives guidance to.

Disassembles

• Takes apart.

Discloses

• Makes known to the public information that was previously known only to a few; discloses to view by removing a cover.

Discusses

• Exchanges views for the purpose of arriving at a conclusion.

Disseminates

• Spreads information or ideas.

Distinguishes

• Marks as different; detects with the senses; makes conspicuous or noteworthy.

Distributes

• Divides or separates into classes to pass around; allots.

Divides

• Separates into classes or parts; subjects to mathematical division.

Documents

• Records in detail; supports with evidence.

Drafts

• Writes or composes papers or documents in rough, preliminary or final form; often for clearance and approval by others.

Drives

• Operates a vehicle; forces into an action or state.

E

Edits

• Revises and prepares as for publication.

Educates

• Provides knowledge or training or for a particular goal.

Eliminates

• Does away with; dismisses from consideration.

Endorses

• Expresses approval of; countersigns.

Enforces

• Ensures observance of laws and rules; compels and imposes.

Ensures

• Is careful to do something; makes certain of something.

Establishes

• Sets up; institutes; places on a firm basis.

Estimates

• Forecasts future quantities, values, sizes, extents, etc., either on the basis of judgement or calculations.

Evaluates

• Appraises; ascertains the value of.

Examines

• Investigates; scrutinizes; subjects to inquiry by inspection or test.

Executes

• Gives effect; follows through to the end; completes.

Exercises

• Brings to bear or employs actively, as exercises authority or influence.

Exhibits

• Shows or demonstrates something; makes visible or apparent.

Expands

• Makes larger in size or quantity; adds details.

Expedites

• Hastens the movement or progress of; removes obstacles; accelerates.

Explores

• Penetrates into unknown territory; examines minutely.

Extends

• Stretches out over a distance, time or scope; expands the influence of.

Extracts

• Draws out, usually with some effort; deduces a principle.

Evaluates

• Estimates; ranks; qualifies; measures, determines the value of.

F

Facilitates

• Makes easy or less difficult.

Feeds

• Supplies material to a machine, or food to a person or an animal.

Figures

• Computes; judges to be probable.

Files

• Lays away papers, etc.; arranges in a methodical manner.

Fills-in

• Enters information on a form; is a substitute for.

Finds

• Locates by searching.

Fires

• Terminates the employment of; starts firing a weapon; bakes in a kiln.

Flags

• Marks in some distinctive manner.

Follows

• Acts in accordance with someone else’s rules; travels behind.

Follows-up

• Checks the progress of; sees if results are satisfactory.

Forecasts

• Conjectural estimates of something in the future; estimates; predicts.

Formulates

• Puts into systemized statement; develops or devises a plan, policy or procedure.

Furnishes

• Provides; supplies or gives.

G

Gathers

• Brings together or collects parts of a group.

Generates

• Brings into existence; produces.

Governs

• Imposes regulations; directs the behaviour of.

Guides

• Conducts or directs along a course of action.

H

Handles

• Is in charge of or acts on; touches, lifts or holds with the hands.

Helps

• Gives assistance or aid to; contributes; supports.

Hires

• Engages for work under a term or contract; holds under a rental agreement.

I

Identifies

• Recognizes as being; establishes the identity of someone or something.

Illustrates

• Clarifies by giving an example of; depicts with drawings.

Implements

• Carries out; performs acts essential to the execution of a plan or programme; gives effect to.

Improvies

• Performs without preparation; manages in a makeshift way.

Influences

• Induces into action; gives direction to; exerts an influence.

Informs

• Instructs; acquaints; communicates knowledge.

Initiates

• Originates; introduces for the first time.

Inputs

• Enters data or a program into a computer.

Inquires

• Asks or searches into.

Inserts

• Puts; thrusts in, as a needle into a vein; introduces as a word in a sentence.

Inspects

• Examines carefully for suitability or conformance with standards.

Installs

• Sets up for use; institutes, poses, adjusts.

Instructs

• Imparts knowledge to; supplies direction to.

Interacts

• Acts together or toward others or with others.

Interprets

• Explains the meaning of; translates.

Interviews

• Questions in order to obtain facts or opinions.

Inventories

• Counts and makes a list of items.

Investigates

• Inquires into systematically, conducts an inquiry.

Issues

• Distributes formally; prepares for public distribution.

Itemizes

• States in terms or by particulars; sets down or notes in detail.

J

Judges

• Determines the result of, as in a competition; forms an opinion about; hears a case and sits as the judge.

K

Keeps

• Preserves or maintains in a good and orderly condition.

L

Leads*

• Is in charge of; presides over; takes somebody somewhere.

Liaises

• Acts between parties (e.g. clients and agencies) with a view to reconciling differences.

Lifts

• Raises (e.g. patients or boxes) from a lower to a higher position; annuls by rescinding; removes from a surface; invigorates.

Listens

• Pays close attention to (e.g. for responses or to make notes); hears with intention; pays heed to.

Lists

• Itemizes; names individually.

Locates

• Searches for and finds.

M

Maintains

• Holds or keeps in any condition, as equipment; keeps up to date or current, (as records).

Makes

• Causes something to assume a designated condition.

Manages

• Controls and directs; guides; administers.

Manipulates

• Influences or controls shrewdly (e.g. data); controls (others or oneself) or influences skilfully; treats manually, as in massage.

Markets

• Engages in commercial promotion, sale or distribution.

Measures

• Determines lengths or quantities of.

Mediates

• Acts between parties with a view to reconciling differences and disputes between people.

Merges

• Combines; mixes together different elements.

Mixes

• Unites or blends into one group or mass.

Modifies

• Makes changes to.

Monitors

• Observes or checks periodically for a specific purpose.

Motivates

• Provides incentive or drive.

Moves

• Changes location; proceeds from one point to another; proposes formally as in a meeting or procedure.

Multiples

• Performs the operation of multiplication.

N

Negotiates

• Exchanges views and proposals with an eye to reaching agreement by sifting through possibilities, proposals, pros and cons.

Notes

• Observes, notices, heeds; makes a written note of; makes mention of.

Notifies

• Gives notice to; informs.

O

Observes

• Perceives or notices; watches.

Obtains

• Gains possession of; acquires.

Opens

• Enters upon; spreads out; makes accessible.

Operates

• Conducts or performs activity; handles and causes to function, as equipment; performs surgery; controls the working of; operates, as a business; directs.

Orders

• Gives instructions to or directs somebody to do something; brings into conformity; imposes regulations.

Originates

• Brings into being; takes on form or shape.

Organizes

• Arranges in interdependent parts; systemizes.

Outlines

• Exposes briefly, presents, sketches, limits, drafts, plans, summarizes; makes a summary of the significant features of a subject.

Oversees

• Supervises a function or operation as distinct from supervising people.

P

Participates

• Takes part in.

Pays

• Discharges or settles a debt (e.g. issues cheques); gives money in exchange for goods and services.

Performs

• Carries on to a finish; accomplishes; executes; gives a performance (of something).

Persuades

• Wins approval or support for; causes someone to adopt a certain belief.

Plans

• Devises or projects a method or a course of action.

Posts

• Transfers or carries information from one record to another; to announce by public, written notice.

Prepares

• Makes ready for a particular purpose or event; creates by training or teaching; makes edible for eating.

Presents

• Brings forward to an interested audience (e.g. funding proposals); introduces; delivers (e.g. a speech).

Prioritizes

• Arranges or deals with in order of importance.

Processes

• Subjects to some special treatment; handles in accordance with prescribed procedures.

Programs

• Makes a plan or procedure; develops coded instructions to control operations of computer or other machine.

Projects

• Plans, figures, or estimates for the future.

Promotes

• Acts so as to increase sales or patronage; advances someone to a higher level or job.

Proposes

• Offers for consideration or adoption; nominates for appointment or office.

Protects

• Shields from danger, injury or damage (e.g. persons, information or interests).

Provides

• Supplies for use; furnishes.

Pulls

• Applies force to move something or someone forward; a sustained effort; a sharp strain on muscles.

Purchases

• Buys or procures.

Pursues

• Carries out or is involved in an activity (e.g. on behalf of a client); goes in search of; advances further.

Pushes

• Moves an object or person (e.g. a cart or a wheelchair); compels someone to action; continues in a concerted effort for a cause or project.

Q

R

Rates

• Appraises or assesses; settles the rank; qualifies.

Reads

• Learns or is informed by reading.

Receives

• Takes (as something that is offered).

Recommends

• Suggests or proposes courses of action or procedures to persons who have responsibility for authorizing the carrying out of actions or procedures.

Reconciles

• Brings into accord; makes compatible with.

Reconstructs

• Constructs again; restores.

Records

• Registers; makes a record of.

Recruits

• Increases numbers of a group or brings in new members.

Refers

• Directs attention; sends for treatment or information; has as a meaning; pertains to.

Refines

• Improves or perfects; prepares so as to put in a usable condition.

Registers

• Enters in a record or list.

Regulates

• Fixes or adjusts the time, amount, degree, or rate.

Releases

• Permits the publication of or disseminates.

Remits

• Transmits or sends as money in payment.

Renders

• Furnishes; contributes.

Reorganizes

• Organizes anew, as after a setback.

Reports

• Supplies or furnishes organized information.

Represents

• Takes the place of; expresses indirectly by an image; is spokesperson for; represents someone’s interest.

Requests

• Asks for something.

Requires

• Considers obligatory; makes someone do something; has need of.

Requisitions

• Makes a formal request for.

Researchers

• Inquires into a specific subject from several sources.

Resolves

• Deals with a problem; settles successfully (e.g. a conflict); reaches a decision.

Responds*

• Shows a reaction or response to something; replies.

Responsibility (is responsible for)

• • Complete Responsibility – Individual has complete authority to take whatever action is deemed advisable or necessary, subject only to the policies or general rules laid down.
  • Delegated Responsibility – Individual has authority to take whatever action is deemed advisable or necessary; may initiate and carry out the action but should advise superior of action taken; must inform superiors of non-routine situations.
  • General Responsibility – Individual is required to gain approval of supervisor before proceeding with the action which is deemed necessary or advisable.

Restricts

• Places under restriction as to use or distribution; limits access to.

Retrieves

• Recovers the use of (e.g. information from systems/files); recalls knowledge from memory; to straighten, to extract.

Reviews

• Goes over or examines deliberately or critically; analyses results for the purpose of giving an opinion.

Revises

• Makes a new, improved or up-to-date version of.

S

Scans

• Examines point by point, scrutinizes; scans data using a scanner.

Schedules

• Plans a timetable; sets specific times for.

Screens

• Examines closely; generally so as to separate one group or class from another.

Searches

• Looks over and through for the purpose of finding something.

Secures

• Gets possession of; obtains; causes to be firmly attached; makes certain of.

Sees

• Perceives by sight; observes; makes certain of something.

Selects

• Chooses from a number of others of similar kind.

Sells

• Gives up property in exchange for money.

Separates

• Sets apart, keeps apart.

Signs

• Affixes signature to; communicates non-verbally (as in sign language).

Solicits

• Makes a petition or a request for services, money.

Solves

• Finds the solution to a problem or question.

Sorts

• Puts in a definite place, location or order, according to kind, class, etc.

Specifies

• States precisely or in detail, or names explicitly.

Spends

• Pays out money or budget funds; passes in a specific way (e.g. time).

Stacks

• Piles up.

Stands

• Is in an upright position (e.g. cashier); remains in effect; withstands the force of something.

Stores

• Keeps aside for future use (objects or data); finds a place and puts away.

Streamlines

• Improves the appearance or efficiency of; modernizes, organizes or simplifies; contours effectively.

Studies

• Considers attentively; ponders or fixes the mind closely upon a subject.

Submits

• Presents for decision, information or judgement of others.

Sub-totals

• Takes an interim total.

Substracts

• Deducts one number from another.

Summarizes

• Makes an abstract; briefs; gives only the main points.

Supervises

• Oversees; inspects with authority; guides and instructs with immediate responsibility for performance; leads.

Supplies

• Makes materials available for use.

Supports*

• Provides service, assistance, or supplies to another person or department.

Surveys

• Determines the form, extent, position, etc. of a situation; usually in connections with gathering of information; inspects.

T

Tabulates

• Forms into a table by listing; makes a listing.

Teaches

• Imparts skills or knowledge to; accustoms gradually to some attitude or action.

Traces

• Records the disposition of an application or document; copies as a drawing.

Trains

• Increases skill or knowledge by capable instruction, (usually in relation to a pre-determined standard).

Transcribes

• Makes a typewritten copy from shorthand notes or dictated record; writes a copy of.

Transfers

• Passes over from one person to another; moves from one place to another; causes to change ownership.

Transposes

• Transfers; changes the usual place of order.

Troubleshoots

• Solves problems.

Turns

• Changes direction or the position of; causes to move around or rotate, (animate or inanimate); changes (e.g. attitude) to the contrary.

Twists

U

Underlines

• Emphasizes or identifies by drawing a line under the characters or subject; gives extra weight to.

Uses

• Puts into service; employs for a particular purpose (e.g. information); takes or consumes regularly.

V

Verifies

• Proves to be true or accurate; confirms or substantiates; tests or checks the accuracy of.

W

Walks

• Uses one’s feet to advance; acts in association with.

​

Weighs

• Takes into consideration as to importance; determines the weight of.

Writes

• Composes and sets down; express or communicates in writing; produces material.

X

Y

Z

Zips

• ​Moves very fast; compresses an electronic file.​