Acting Words - Actions
Script analysis breaks down individual bits of dialogue into beats with attached actions. The below list of actions will help you more quickly come up with a word for what your character is doing and thus direct stage business and inflection to better achieve the character's goals.
Though actions are sometimes the same as objectives in name, often the action is not the same as the desired result.
accuse
adhere to
admit (something)
advise
advocate
aggravate
agitate
agree
aid
amaze
analyze
anger
announce
annoy
appeal to
appease
appraise
apprise
approve
argue
assail
assault
assess
assist
assuage
astonish
astound
attack
authorize
avoid
awaken
bad-mouth
badger
baffle
bait
beat down
beg
belittle
berate
blast
bolster
bombard
bother
brag
break down
browbeat
bruise
bug
bully
cajole
castigate
chafe
challenge
change
change the mood
characterize
charm
chastise
cheer up
chide
clarify
classify
clear up
coach
coax
coerce
comfort
command
commend
commiserate with
compare
complain
compliment
conclude
confound
confuse
connect with
console
construct
contradict
contrast
convert
convince
cooperate
correct
counsel
count
court
create
criticize
cross-examine
dawdle
dazzle
debate
deduce
defend
define
delegate
delight
demand
demonstrate
demoralize
describe
determine
develop (rapport)
diagnose
differentiate
direct
disclose
discourage
discriminate
discuss
disenchant
dishearten
disillusion
dismay
disparage
distress
disturb
divert
dramatize
draw the line
evaluate
examine
explain
educate
elaborate
elicit (help, advice)
eliminate
elucidate
embarrass
embolden
emphasize
encourage
enforce
enhance
enlighten
enrage
ensure
entertain
entice
establish
estimate
evade
evaluate
examine
exasperate
excite
excoriate
explain
explicate
extract
fabricate
face up to
facilitate
familiarize
feign (interest, attention)
flabbergast
flatter
flirt
follow
fool
force
forgive
fortify
freezeout
frustrate
generalize
generate
give (offer) myself
gladden
glorify
goad
guide
hail
harangue
harass
hassle
haul over the coals
have fun
heal
heckle
heighten
help
hide true feelings
hinder
hint
honor
hurt
hypnotize
identify
ignore
illustrate
impale
implore
imply
impress
improve
incense
incite
induce
inflame
inform
infuriate
inhibit
initiate
injure
insist
inspect
inspire
instill
institute
instruct
interpret
interrupt
invent
invite
irk
irritate
jest
judge
justify
kid
knife
label
lambaste
laud
lead into a trap
lead
lecture
level
lie
list
lure
maintain
malign
manipulate
marshall
match
measure
meddle
mesmerize
mimic
mirror
misinform
mislead
mock
mollify
mortify
motivate
nag
nail
name
negotiate
nullify
nurture
oblige
obscure
offend
order
organize
outline
outrage
paraphrase
peeve
perform
perplex
persecute
persuade
perturb
pester
pick on
pigeonhole
pique
placate
plan
play along
play
plead
please
praise
predict
prepare
prescribe
present
prevent
prioritize
probe
promote
propose
protect
prove
provide
provoke
pry
punish
push
put down
put on ice
put yourself down
quash
question
quiet
quote
rank
rate
reach out
reason
reassure
rebel against
rebuke
recall
recite
recommend
recruit
rectify
refer
refuse
rejuvenate
relate
relate to/with
relieve
repair
repel
repent
report
reprimand
resist
respond
restore
review
revise
revitalize
ridicule
roast
role-play
romance
rouse
satisfy
save (someone)
scar
screen
scrutinize
seduce
select
separate
shape
share
shepherd
shift
shock
show
simplify (something)
simulate
slam
slander
smash
snatch
sneer at
snub
solicit (help, advice)
solve (a problem)
soothe
sort (things)
specify
stab
stabilize
steer
stem
stimulate
stir
strengthen
study
stun
stupefy
subdue
submit
suck up to
suggest
summarize
supplicate
supply (info, comfort)
support
surprise
sustain
sympathize with
teach
tease
tell
tempt
terrorize
test
threaten
thwart
tickle
torment
torture
train
trap
trouble
try
tutor
uncover
uplift
upset
urge
validate
verify
vex
violate
volunteer
warn
watch
whisper
woo
worry
wound
write off
yell