Bloom’s Taxonomy Action Verbs

Bloom’s Taxonomy is a classification of verbs to help us describe observable knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors and abilities.

It’s a useful list of action verbs to help write learning objectives and program outcomes for proposals and reports.

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REVISED Bloom’s Taxonomy Action Verbs

DEFINITIONS

REMEMBERING

UNDERSTANDING

APPLYING

ANALYZING

EVALUATING

CREATE

Bloom's
Definition

Exhibit memory of previously learned material by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts and answers.

Demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions, and stating main ideas.

Solve problems to new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a different way.

Examine and break information into parts by identifying motives or causes. Make inferences and find evidence to support generalizations.

Present and defend opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas, or quality of work based on a set of criteria.

Compile information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions.

Verbs

• Choose
• Define
• Find
• How
• Label
• List
• Match
• Name
• Omit
• Recall
• Relate
• Select
• Show
• Spell
• Tell
• What
• When
• Where
• Which
• Who
• Why

• Classify
• Compare
• Contrast
• Demonstrate
• Explain
• Extend
• Illustrate
• Infer
• Interpret
• Outline
• Relate
• Rephrase
• Show
• Summarize
• Translate

• Apply
• Build
• Choose
• Construct
• Develop
• Experiment with
• Identify
• Interview
• Make use of
• Model
• Organize
• Plan
• Select
• Solve
• Utilize

• Analyze
• Assume
• Categorize
• Classify
• Compare
• Conclusion
• Contrast
• Discover
• Dissect
• Distinguish
• Divide
• Examine
• Function
• Inference
• Inspect
• List
• Motive
• Relationships
• Simplify
• Survey
• Take part in
• Test for
• Theme

• Agree
• Appraise
• Assess
• Award
• Choose
• Compare
• Conclude
• Criteria
• Criticize
• Decide
• Deduct
• Defend
• Determine
• Disprove
• Estimate
• Evaluate
• Explain
• Importance
• Influence
• Interpret
• Judge
• Justify
• Mark
• Measure
• Opinion
• Perceive
• Prioritize
• Prove
• Rate
• Recommend
• Rule on
• Select
• Support
• Value

• Adapt
• Build
• Change
• Choose
• Combine
• Compile
• Compose
• Construct
• Create
• Delete
• Design
• Develop
• Discuss
• Elaborate
• Estimate
• Formulate
• Happen
• Imagine
• Improve
• Invent
• Make up
• Maximize
• Minimize
• Modify
• Original
• Originate
• Plan
• Predict
• Propose
• Solution
• Solve
• Suppose
• Test
• Theory

Anderson, L. W., & Krathwohl, D. R. (2001). A taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing, Abridged Edition. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.