AP Lang Purpose Verbs

To accuse

To place responsibility or blame on someone/something, often to discredit or provoke defensiveness.

To accentuate

To emphasize or highlight a specific idea, detail, or quality for rhetorical effect.

To advocate for

To actively support or argue in favor of a cause, policy, or perspective.

To allude to

To indirectly reference another text, event, or idea to deepen meaning or build associations.

To answer

To respond directly to a question, challenge, or opposing argument.

To appeal to

To target the audience’s emotions (pathos), logic (logos), or credibility (ethos).

To argue

To present reasoning and evidence in support of a claim.

To assert

To state something strongly and confidently, often without providing detailed support.

To associate with

To connect an idea, group, or concept with another to transfer qualities or connotations.

To blame

To hold someone or something responsible for a problem or failure.

To castigate

To harshly criticize or reprimand in order to shame or correct.

To challenge

To question, dispute, or push back against an assumption, idea, or authority.

To champion

To publicly support, promote, or fight for a person, idea, or cause.

To characterize

To describe or portray something in a particular way that shapes perception.

To claim

To assert a position or thesis that requires support.

To commend

To praise or show approval for a person, idea, or action.

To compare

To highlight similarities between two or more things.

To concede

To acknowledge the validity of an opposing viewpoint, often to strengthen one’s own argument.

To condemn

To strongly disapprove of or denounce as wrong or harmful.

To condone

To accept, overlook, or excuse a problematic behavior or idea.

To console

To comfort or reassure an audience in the face of difficulty or criticism.

To contrast

To highlight differences between two or more things.

To convince

To persuade an audience to believe or accept a claim through reasoning or appeal.

To declare

To formally or confidently announce a position or judgment.

To defend

To support a position or refute criticism against it.

To define

To explain the meaning of a concept or term, often in a way that frames it favorably.

To demonstrate

To show or prove something through evidence, reasoning, or example.

To denounce

To publicly reject or attack an idea, person, or action as wrong or harmful.

To depict

To describe, illustrate, or represent something in a particular way.

To develop

To expand on an idea by adding reasoning, detail, or examples.

To disapprove

To express a lack of acceptance or rejection of an idea or action.

To discourage

To dissuade or deter an audience from believing or doing something.

To dispel

To drive away doubt, misconceptions, or opposing claims.

To dismiss

To reject or wave off an idea, argument, or objection as unworthy of consideration.

To dissuade

To persuade an audience against taking an action or accepting an idea.

To distinguish

To clarify differences in order to separate one idea from another.

To draw

To bring out or extract meaning, connections, or conclusions (e.g., draw a parallel).

To elaborate

To add detail or explanation to clarify or strengthen an argument.

To elicit

To draw out a response, reaction, or emotion from the audience.

To encourage

To motivate or urge the audience toward a belief, feeling, or action.

To endorse

To express approval or support for an idea, person, or cause.

To equate

To treat two things as similar or the same, often for persuasive effect.

To eulogize

To praise highly, often in remembrance or to honor someone’s legacy.

To evaluate

To consider or judge the value or effectiveness of an idea or argument.

To examine

To analyze or inspect an idea, text, or claim closely.

To exonerate

To remove blame or responsibility from someone/something.

To expand

To build on an idea by adding breadth, detail, or scope.

To expose

To reveal flaws, truths, or hidden aspects of an argument, person, or system.

To extol

To enthusiastically praise or celebrate an idea, person, or action.

To extrapolate

To extend reasoning or evidence beyond the immediate case to suggest broader implications.

To evoke

To call forth feelings, images, or associations in the audience’s mind.

To explore

To investigate or consider a subject from multiple angles.

To focus on

To direct attention toward a key idea, issue, or detail.

To frame

To present an issue or idea in a particular way that influences perception.

To honor

To show respect or admiration, often to elevate values or traditions.

To illuminate

To clarify or shed light on something complex or hidden.

To illustrate

To use examples, anecdotes, or images to make an idea clearer.

To imply

To suggest indirectly rather than state outright.

To incite

To stir up strong feelings or actions, often anger, urgency, or resistance.

To inform

To provide factual knowledge or background for understanding.

To inspire

To motivate the audience to think, feel, or act in a positive way.

To instill

To gradually introduce or embed an idea, belief, or value in the audience.

To invalidate

To discredit or show that an idea, claim, or argument is unsound.

To invoke

To call on an authority, principle, or shared value for support.

To justify

To give reasons or explanations that defend or support a claim.

To juxtapose

To place two ideas, images, or concepts side by side to highlight contrast or connection.

To lament

To express sorrow, regret, or grief over a loss, failure, or problem.

To magnify

To emphasize or enlarge the importance of something.

To maintain

To uphold or continue asserting a position despite challenges.

To maximize

To emphasize or bring out the greatest possible importance of something.

To minimize

To downplay or reduce the importance of something.

To oppose

To stand against or reject an idea, claim, or action.

To parody

To imitate something humorously or exaggeratedly to mock or criticize.

To praise

To express approval or admiration of an idea, person, or action.

To present

To introduce or put forth information, evidence, or perspective.

To proclaim

To announce something confidently and publicly, often with authority.

To project

To extend an impression, emotion, or image onto an audience or idea.

To propose

To suggest an idea, plan, or course of action for consideration.

To protest

To openly object to or express disapproval of something.

To provoke

To stimulate a reaction, often of strong emotion or thought.

To question

To challenge assumptions, raise doubts, or prompt critical thought.

To recount

To narrate or tell a story, often from personal or historical experience.

To redefine

To change or reshape the meaning of a concept or idea.

To reevaluate

To reconsider or reassess an idea in light of new evidence or perspective.

To refer to

To mention or cite a person, text, or idea.

To refute

To disprove or argue against a claim with evidence or reasoning.

To reframe

To present an issue or idea from a new perspective to shift its meaning.

To reiterate

To repeat an idea for emphasis or reinforcement.

To reject

To refuse, deny, or dismiss an idea or proposal.

To reminisce

To recall and share past experiences, often with nostalgia.

To repudiate

To reject or disown strongly, often with moral force.

To respond to

To directly address an argument, claim, or concern.

To reveal

To make something known or visible that was hidden.

To satirize

To criticize through humor, irony, or exaggeration.

To stress

To emphasize or highlight the importance of something.

To suggest

To put forward an idea, possibility, or action gently or indirectly.

To urge

To strongly encourage or call the audience to act.

To validate

To confirm or support the truth or worth of something.

To vindicate

To clear from blame or justify as correct or reasonable.

To warn

To alert the audience to potential danger, harm, or consequences.