C120 words · Advanced

Movement & Action vocabulary — C1

Movement and action vocabulary with precise, literary verbs — meander, plummet, clamber and stride — the exact way a person or thing moves, from a confident stride to an unsteady totter.

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Words in this set

meander
/miˈændər/
Another word for wander — moving slowly with lots of turns, like a river or a conversation.
Example: The river meanders slowly through the valley before reaching the sea.
recoil
/riˈkɔɪl/
Another word for flinch — drawing sharply back in shock or disgust.
Example: I couldn't help but recoil at the smell from the fridge.
lurch
/lɜrtʃ/
Another word for stagger — a sudden, unsteady movement, like a boat hitting a wave.
Example: The old lift lurches so badly I don't trust it anymore.
plummet
/ˈplʌmət/
The opposite of rise — falling suddenly and steeply.
Example: Shares in the company plummeted after the scandal broke.
recede
/rɪˈsid/
The opposite of advance — to move gradually back or grow smaller.
Example: The floodwater slowly receded, leaving mud behind.
veer
/vɪr/
Another word for swerve — when a vehicle or path suddenly changes direction.
Example: The cyclist had to veer sharply to avoid the pothole.
hoist
/hɔɪst/
Another word for lift — raising something heavy using ropes, a crane or a pulley.
Example: They used a crane to hoist the piano to the top floor.
totter
/ˈtɑtər/
Another word for stumble — moving unsteadily from side to side, as if about to fall.
Example: The toddler tottered across the room towards his mother.
clamber
/ˈklæmbər/
Another word for climb — moving awkwardly using both your hands and feet.
Example: We had to clamber over fallen rocks to reach the cave.
dart
/dɑrt/
Another word for rush — moving suddenly and quickly in one direction.
Example: A rabbit darted across the path in front of us.
stride
/straɪd/
The opposite of shuffle — to walk with long, confident steps.
Example: She would stride into a meeting and change its whole temperature.
trudge
/trʌdʒ/
The opposite of stride — to walk slowly with heavy, tired steps.
Example: We had to trudge the last two miles through wet sand.
hasten
/ˈheɪsən/
The opposite of dawdle — to move or act more quickly than usual.
Example: He had to hasten back before the gates were locked.
swoop
/swup/
The opposite of soar — to drop suddenly downwards through the air.
Example: Gulls would swoop the moment anyone opened a bag of chips.
sidle
/ˈsaɪdəl/
Another word for edge — to move sideways hoping not to be noticed.
Example: He tried to sidle out before the questions started.
gyrate
/ˈdʒaɪˌreɪt/
Another word for spin — to turn round and round very quickly.
Example: The whole rig began to gyrate as soon as the current took it.
vault
/vɔlt/
Another word for leap — to jump over something using your hands.
Example: He can still vault a five-bar gate at sixty.
slink
Another word for creep — to move quietly, as if you were ashamed.
Example: The dog would slink back in whenever the shouting stopped.
careering
/kərˈɪrɪŋ/
Another word for hurtling — moving fast and completely out of control.
Example: A careering trolley took out the whole display.
alight
/əˈlaɪt/
The opposite of board — to get off a train, a bus or a horse.
Example: Passengers should alight at the second stop for the museum.