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Verbs that Start with R (Free Printable List)

Looking for verbs that start with R? Here’s the insider secret most writers never realize.

Most people think finding strong R-verbs is straightforward; just grab “run,” “read,” and “remember” and move on. Dead wrong. The most potent R-verbs lurk beneath the surface while boring choices suck the life out of writing.

Teachers rarely reveal which R-verbs actually create punch in sentences. Students rely on the same basic options while powerful alternatives stay buried.

Certain R-verbs can revolutionize flat sentences into dynamic prose. The difference between dull and captivating writing often hinges on selecting the right action words.

R-Verbs for Writing & Learning

R-verbs pack more punch than most people realize. These action words create energy and movement that pull readers deeper into every sentence.

The secret lies in how R-verbs naturally roll off the tongue and stick in memory.

Words like “rush,” “roar,” and “rumble” create instant mental pictures that weaker verbs can’t match. Professional writers understand that R-verbs can “revitalize” tired prose and “revolutionize” entire pieces of writing.

The difference between amateur and expert writing often comes down to verb selection. Writers who master strong R-verbs create prose that resonates with readers long after they finish reading.

Verbs that Start with R

Words that begin with R are powerful tools for expressing actions, emotions, and transformations. They help add variety and depth to communication, making it more engaging and vivid.

1. Ramble

Meaning: To talk or write at length in a confused or aimless way.
Example: He rambled on about his childhood memories.

2. Reassure

Meaning: To say or do something to remove doubts or fears.
Example: She reassured him that everything would be okay.

3. React

Meaning: To respond to an action or situation.
Example: He reacted to the news with shock and disbelief.

4. Read

Meaning: To look at and understand written or printed words.
Example: She reads a book every night before bed.

5. Ready

Meaning: To prepare or make something available.
Example: The team was ready for the big game.

6. Realize

Meaning: To become fully aware of something.
Example: I just realized that I forgot my keys.

7. Recap

Meaning: To summarize or review briefly.
Example: Let me recap the main points of the meeting.

8. Recede

Meaning: To move back or withdraw.
Example: The floodwaters began to recede after the storm.

9. Receive

Meaning: To accept or take something given or offered.
Example: He received a gift for his birthday.

10. Reckon

Meaning: To think or believe something.
Example: I reckon it will rain tomorrow.

11. Reconcile

Meaning: To restore friendly relations after a disagreement.
Example: They reconciled after their argument.

12. Record

Meaning: To capture data or information for future reference.
Example: She recorded the meeting details in her notebook.

13. Recover

Meaning: To regain or return to a normal state.
Example: He quickly recovered from the cold.

14. Redesign

Meaning: To design something again, often improving or altering it.
Example: The company decided to redesign its website.

15. Reduce

Meaning: To make something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
Example: They are trying to reduce waste in the office.

16. Reel

Meaning: To wind or spin something, especially in a circular motion.
Example: He reeled in the fish after a long struggle.

17. Refine

Meaning: To improve something by making small changes.
Example: She refined her speech before the presentation.

18. Reflect

Meaning: To think deeply or carefully about something.
Example: He took a moment to reflect on his past decisions.

19. Refuse

Meaning: To decline or reject something.
Example: She refused to attend the meeting.

20. Regain

Meaning: To recover something that was lost.
Example: He worked hard to regain his strength after surgery.

21. Regret

Meaning: To feel sorry or disappointed about something that has happened.
Example: She regretted not speaking up during the meeting.

22. Rehabilitate

Meaning: To restore something or someone to a healthy or normal state.
Example: The program helps rehabilitate prisoners after release.

23. Relate

Meaning: To tell or explain something in detail.
Example: He related the story of his childhood to the class.

24. Relax

Meaning: To become less tense or anxious; to rest.
Example: She likes to relax with a good book after work.

25. Release

Meaning: To let go or set free.
Example: The company will release a new product next month.

26. Relinquish

Meaning: To give up something, especially a position or right.
Example: He decided to relinquish his claim to the property.

27. Remake

Meaning: To make something again or differently.
Example: They plan to remake the classic film with modern technology.

28. Remark

Meaning: To say something, often as a comment or observation.
Example: She remarked on how beautiful the sunset was.

29. Remember

Meaning: To retain information in the memory.
Example: He couldn’t remember where he left his keys.

30. Remind

Meaning: To cause someone to remember something.
Example: She reminded him to call his mom.

31. Remove

Meaning: To take something away or off from a position.
Example: He removed the trash from the kitchen.

32. Render

Meaning: To provide or give something, usually services or help.
Example: The team rendered great service during the event.

33. Renew

Meaning: To make something new, fresh, or strong again.
Example: He renewed his subscription to the magazine.

34. Renovate

Meaning: To restore or update a building, structure, or item.
Example: They decided to renovate the old house.

35. Repair

Meaning: To fix or restore something that is damaged.
Example: He repaired the broken chair with glue.

36. Repel

Meaning: To drive something or someone away.
Example: The bug spray repelled the mosquitoes.

37. Replace

Meaning: To put something in place of something else.
Example: They replaced the broken window with a new one.

38. Reply

Meaning: To respond to a question or statement.
Example: She replied to his email with a thank you.

39. Report

Meaning: To give a detailed account of something.
Example: He reported the incident to the police.

40. Represent

Meaning: To act or speak for someone or something.
Example: She represented her company at the conference.

41. Request

Meaning: To ask for something formally.
Example: He requested extra time to finish the project.

42. Rescue

Meaning: To save someone or something from danger.
Example: The firefighters rescued the family from the fire.

43. Research

Meaning: To investigate or study something in detail.
Example: She is researching new techniques for data analysis.

44. Resent

Meaning: To feel bitterness or anger toward someone or something.
Example: He resented being treated unfairly by his boss.

45. Reserve

Meaning: To set aside or book for future use.
Example: She reserved a table for two at the restaurant.

46. Resign

Meaning: To voluntarily leave a job or position.
Example: He resigned from his position due to personal reasons.

47. Resist

Meaning: To fight against or oppose something.
Example: She resisted the temptation to eat junk food.

48. Resolve

Meaning: To find a solution to a problem or situation.
Example: They resolved the issue after a long discussion.

49. Resonate

Meaning: To produce a lasting effect or impact.
Example: His words resonated deeply with the audience.

50. Respond

Meaning: To reply or react to something.
Example: She responded to the invitation with enthusiasm.

51. Rest

Meaning: To cease work or activity for relaxation.
Example: He rested after a long day of work.

52. Restore

Meaning: To bring something back to its original condition.
Example: They restored the painting to its former glory.

53. Restrict

Meaning: To limit or control something.
Example: The school restricted the use of mobile phones.

54. Result

Meaning: To occur as a consequence of something.
Example: The decision resulted in an unexpected outcome.

55. Retain

Meaning: To keep something in your possession.
Example: She retained the documents for future reference.

56. Retire

Meaning: To stop working after reaching a certain age or length of service.
Example: He plans to retire next year.

57. Retrieve

Meaning: To recover or bring something back.
Example: The dog retrieved the ball from the yard.

58. Reveal

Meaning: To make something known or visible.
Example: They revealed the new product at the press conference.

59. Revenge

Meaning: To take action against someone for a wrong done.
Example: He sought revenge after being insulted.

60. Reverse

Meaning: To go backward or undo a change.
Example: He reversed the decision after reconsidering.

61. Revert

Meaning: To return to a previous state or condition.
Example: She reverted to her old ways after the breakup.

62. Review

Meaning: To examine something again for accuracy or improvement.
Example: He reviewed the document before submitting it.

63. Revise

Meaning: To make changes to improve or update something.
Example: She revised her paper after receiving feedback.

64. Revisit

Meaning: To return to a place or topic for further consideration.
Example: He revisited the topic during the second meeting.

65. Revive

Meaning: To bring something back to life or consciousness.
Example: The paramedics revived him after the heart attack.

66. Revoke

Meaning: To officially cancel or withdraw something.
Example: The school revoked his privileges after the incident.

67. Reward

Meaning: To give something in return for an achievement or service.
Example: They rewarded him with a promotion for his hard work.

68. Reexamine

Meaning: To examine something again, often with more scrutiny.
Example: The team decided to reexamine the data for errors.

69. Riddle

Meaning: To confuse or perplex with a puzzle or mystery.
Example: The teacher riddled the class with challenging questions.

70. Rid

Meaning: To remove or eliminate something unwanted.
Example: He rid the house of all the old furniture.

71. Ride

Meaning: To sit on and control a moving vehicle, animal, or machine.
Example: She rode her bike to the park.

72. Rifle

Meaning: To search through something quickly and thoroughly.
Example: He rifled through his bag looking for his keys.

73. Ring

Meaning: To make a sound with a bell or phone.
Example: The phone rang loudly in the quiet room.

74. Rise

Meaning: To move upward or become elevated.
Example: The sun rises in the east every morning.

75. Risk

Meaning: To expose oneself to danger or harm.
Example: He risked his life to save the child.

76. Roam

Meaning: To move around without a fixed destination.
Example: They roamed the streets of the city all day.

77. Roar

Meaning: To make a loud, deep sound, usually with anger or excitement.
Example: The lion roared loudly in the zoo.

78. Roll

Meaning: To move by turning over and over.
Example: The ball rolled across the floor.

79. Rotate

Meaning: To turn around a central point.
Example: The wheel rotates smoothly with each turn.

80. Ruin

Meaning: To destroy or spoil something completely.
Example: The storm ruined their plans for the picnic.

81. Rumble

Meaning: To make a continuous, deep, resonant sound.
Example: Thunder rumbled in the distance.

82. Run

Meaning: To move swiftly on foot.
Example: He ran to catch the bus.

83. Rush

Meaning: To move quickly or hastily.
Example: She rushed to finish the project before the deadline.

84. Rattle

Meaning: To make a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds.
Example: The car rattled as it drove over the rough road.

85. Reap

Meaning: To gather or harvest something, typically crops.
Example: They reaped the benefits of their hard work.

86. Rescue

Meaning: To save someone or something from danger.
Example: The firefighters rescued the kitten from the tree.

87. Raze

Meaning: To completely destroy or demolish something.
Example: The building was razed to make way for a new mall.

88. Replenish

Meaning: To fill something up again.
Example: They replenished the water supply before the hike.

89. Rerun

Meaning: To broadcast something again.
Example: They decided to rerun the popular show.

90. Rumble

Meaning: To make a low, continuous sound.
Example: His stomach rumbled after not eating all day.

91. Rebuke

Meaning: To express sharp disapproval or criticism.
Example: The teacher rebuked the student for his behavior.

92. Regale

Meaning: To entertain or amuse someone with stories or food.
Example: He regaled his friends with tales of his adventures.

93. Reprove

Meaning: To reprimand or correct someone.
Example: The coach reproved the player for his mistake.

94. Revamp

Meaning: To improve or renovate something.
Example: They revamped the website to make it more user-friendly.

95. Relax

Meaning: To become less tense or anxious; to unwind.
Example: She relaxed in the garden with a cup of tea.

96. Rebirth

Meaning: To be born again or renewed.
Example: The city experienced a rebirth after the renovation.

97. Repay

Meaning: To give back or return money or kindness.
Example: He repaid the loan with interest.

98. Reorganize

Meaning: To arrange or structure something differently.
Example: They reorganized the office to improve workflow.

99. Ravish

Meaning: To seize and carry off by force or to deeply delight.
Example: She was ravished by the beauty of the sunset.

100. Replicate

Meaning: To make an exact copy of something.
Example: He replicated the experiment to ensure accuracy.

101. Reroute

Meaning: To change the course or direction of something.
Example: The storm forced us to reroute our trip.

102. Refuel

Meaning: To supply something with fuel.
Example: The plane had to refuel before taking off again.

103. Rejoice

Meaning: To express great joy or happiness.
Example: They rejoiced at the news of the victory.

104. Revel

Meaning: To take great pleasure or delight in something.
Example: He reveled in the success of his team.

105. Reincarnate

Meaning: To be born again in a new body after death.
Example: In some beliefs, the soul can reincarnate into a new form.

106. Rally

Meaning: To bring together people or things for a common purpose.
Example: They rallied their supporters for the election campaign.

107. Repose

Meaning: To rest or lie down.
Example: She reposed in the hammock, enjoying the cool breeze.

108. Retaliate

Meaning: To take revenge or retaliate in response to an injury or wrong.
Example: He decided to retaliate after being insulted.

109. Recheck

Meaning: To check something again for accuracy.
Example: Make sure to recheck your work before submitting it.

110. Redress

Meaning: To correct or remedy a situation.
Example: He sought redress for the wrong that had been done to him.

111. Reshape

Meaning: To change the form or structure of something.
Example: They reshaped the curriculum to fit modern needs.

112. Refract

Meaning: To cause light to change direction when passing through a medium.
Example: The light refracted through the glass prism.

113. Reside

Meaning: To live or dwell in a place.
Example: They reside in a small village by the sea.

114. Reboot

Meaning: To restart something, often a system or process.
Example: The IT team had to reboot the server after the crash.

115. Reconcile

Meaning: To restore a relationship after a conflict.
Example: They reconciled after a heated argument.

116. Replenish

Meaning: To fill something back up.
Example: She replenished the water bottles for the hike.

117. Rebound

Meaning: To spring back after hitting a surface.
Example: The ball bounced and then rebounded off the wall.

118. Rehash

Meaning: To discuss or present something again, often with no new insights.
Example: Stop rehashing the same arguments—let’s move forward.

119. Reignite

Meaning: To reignite a spark or passion.
Example: The coach’s speech reignited the team’s drive to win.

120. Refill

Meaning: To fill something again.
Example: She refilled her coffee cup after it was empty.

121. Repress

Meaning: To hold back or suppress feelings or desires.
Example: He repressed his emotions and didn’t show how upset he was.

122. Roost

Meaning: To settle or rest, especially for birds.
Example: The birds roosted on the tree branches at dusk.

123. Reemerge

Meaning: To come back or appear again after being hidden.
Example: The sun reemerged after the rainstorm.

124. Reaffirm

Meaning: To state or confirm something again with certainty.
Example: He reaffirmed his commitment to the project.

125. Reforge

Meaning: To reshape or recreate something.
Example: The blacksmith reforged the sword into a new shape.

126. Reinvent

Meaning: To change something radically or create it in a new form.
Example: The company reinvented itself with a new marketing strategy.

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Fun Ways to Teach Kindergarten Kids Verbs That Start with R

1. Use Real-Life Examples: Encourage students to think of actions they do every day that start with R, like “run,” “relax,” or “reorganize.” Have them share examples.

2. Interactive Activities: Create a classroom activity where students act out verbs that start with R. For example, they could “rearrange” a desk or “recycle” a piece of paper.

3. Create Verb Lists: Have students make their own list of verbs starting with R. Then, they can write sentences using those verbs to reinforce learning.

4. Verb Mapping: Introduce a mind map where students can write the verb in the center and draw lines to related words, actions, or synonyms starting with R.

5. Verb Flashcards: Use flashcards with the verb on one side and an image of the action on the other. Students can quiz each other on the meanings and usage of the verbs.

6. Writing Prompts: Give students writing prompts using verbs that start with R. For example: “Write a story where you have to react to a sudden change,” or “Describe a time when you had to repair something.”

7. Verb Challenges: Organize a classroom challenge where students find as many verbs starting with R as they can within a time limit. Reward the most creative or accurate list.

Bottom Line

Verbs that start with R are essential for making our language more lively and expressive. They help us describe actions, express feelings, and talk about changes in a clear way.

By using these verbs, we can make our sentences more interesting and detailed. Learning and incorporating them into our vocabulary helps us communicate more effectively and improve our writing skills.

Have a favorite “R” verb or want to share how you use these in writing? Drop a comment or share your feedback below.

Andrew Wright

Andrew Wright is a word enthusiast with a love for vocabulary and language puzzles. He earned a degree in Linguistics from the University of Cambridge. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys playing board games, attending language exchange meetups, and writing poetry. His enthusiasm for language and games is contagious, making learning enjoyable for all.