shove
/ʃʌv/The informal word for push, used about forcing your way through a crowd.
Example: He shoved past the crowd to reach the door.
B216 words · Upper-intermediate
Movement & Action vocabulary — B2
Movement and action vocabulary with vivid, specific verbs — shove, stumble, sprint and swerve — exact ways of falling, gripping, and moving fast or slow.
16 questions
Words in this set
16retreat
/riˈtrit/The opposite of advance — to move backward, away from danger.
Example:
The soldiers were forced to retreat under heavy fire.
plunge
/plʌndʒ/The opposite of soar — to fall suddenly and quickly.
Example:
Stock prices plunged after the announcement.
clutch
/klʌtʃ/The opposite of release — to hold something tightly, often from fear.
Example:
She clutched her bag as the train jolted forward.
stumble
/ˈstʌmbəl/Another word for trip — nearly falling while you're walking or running.
Example:
He stumbled over a tree root in the dark.
drift
/drɪft/Another word for float — carried slowly by wind or water, without any control.
Example:
The boat began to drift away from the shore.
advance
/ədˈvæns/The opposite of retreat — to move forward, especially against resistance.
Example:
The troops began to advance at dawn.
grip
/ɡrɪp/Another word for clutch — holding something very tightly with your hand.
Example:
She kept a tight grip on the handrail.
tumble
/ˈtʌmbəl/Another word for fall — losing your balance suddenly and rolling as you go down.
Example:
The toddler took a tumble on the grass.
propel
/prəˈpɛl/Another word for throw — a strong force sends something moving forward quickly.
Example:
The rocket engines propel the spacecraft into orbit.
sprint
/sprɪnt/The opposite of jog — to run as fast as you possibly can for a short way.
Example:
He had to sprint the last hundred metres to catch it.
slither
/ˈslɪðər/Another word for slide — to move along the ground the way a snake does.
Example:
We watched a grass snake slither into the long grass.
hobble
/ˈhɑbəl/Another word for limp — to walk with difficulty because you are hurt.
Example:
He managed to hobble as far as the bench and no further.
swerve
/swɜrv/Another word for veer — to turn suddenly to one side while moving.
Example:
The van had to swerve to avoid a cyclist at the junction.
shuffle
/ˈʃʌfəl/Another word for scuff — to walk slowly without lifting your feet properly.
Example:
He began to shuffle towards the door in his slippers.
wade
/weɪd/Another word for paddle — to walk through water that comes up your legs.
Example:
We had to wade the last fifty metres to the boat.
