Verbs of Manual Action - Verbs for Changing Shape and Appearance

Here you will learn some English verbs referring to changing shape and appearance such as "smooth", "fold", and "sharpen".

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Verbs of Manual Action
to level
to level [verb]

to make something even, flat, or straight

Ex: The homeowner leveled the soil in the garden for planting .
to smooth
to smooth [verb]

to make a surface free from roughness

Ex: The chef smoothed the frosting on the cake for a polished finish .
to polish
to polish [verb]

to rub the surface of something, often using a brush or a piece of cloth, to make it bright, smooth, and shiny

Ex: The shoeshiner polished the gentleman 's leather shoes .
to buff
to buff [verb]

to polish or shine a surface by rubbing it with a soft cloth or a special tool

Ex: The homeowner buffed the stainless steel appliances in the kitchen .
to burnish
to burnish [verb]

to rub a surface to make it smooth, shiny, or glossy, often using a tool or an abrasive material

Ex: The woodworker burnished the wooden table to enhance its natural grain .
to sand
to sand [verb]

to rub a surface with sandpaper or another abrasive material to smooth, shape, or remove imperfections

Ex: The artist sanded the canvas before applying layers of paint .
to pave
to pave [verb]

to cover a surface, typically a road or pathway, with a hard, flat material such as asphalt, concrete, or stones

Ex: The homeowners hired a contractor to pave their driveway with concrete .
to erode
to erode [verb]

(of natural forces such as wind, water, or other environmental factors) to gradually wear away or diminish the surface of a material

Ex: Continuous foot traffic can erode the walking path in a natural area .
to straighten
to straighten [verb]

to make something no longer bent or curved

Ex: Using a wrench , the mechanic straightened the bent bicycle frame .
to flatten
to flatten [verb]

to reduce the thickness or height of something, making it less raised or elevated in its shape or form

Ex: To create more space , they decided to flatten the hilly terrain and build a foundation .
to loosen
to loosen [verb]

to make something less tight or more flexible

Ex: In the workshop , the carpenter used a chisel to loosen the old glue from the joints .
to harden
to harden [verb]

to increase firmness or solidity of something

Ex: The blacksmith used a quenching process to harden the metal .
to soften
to soften [verb]

to make something less firm or solid

Ex: To make the leather more pliable , the craftsman applied a leather softener to soften it .
to hone
to hone [verb]

to sharpen a blade or edge using a tool specifically designed for sharpening

Ex: The bladesmith carefully hones the sword to ensure its cutting edge is razor-sharp .
to sharpen
to sharpen [verb]

to make an object pointed or sharper

Ex: The hunter sharpened the blade of his knife before heading into the woods .
to crystallize
to crystallize [verb]

to cause something to change into one or more crystals

Ex: The process of freezing helped crystallize the water into beautiful frost patterns on the window .
to granulate
to granulate [verb]

to break a substance down into small particles

Ex: The chef decided to granulate the sugar for a finer texture in the frosting .
to fluff
to fluff [verb]

to make something soft and puffy, often by shaking or arranging it for added volume

Ex: After braiding her hair , she gently pulled at the strands to fluff the braid and make it look fuller .
to thin
to thin [verb]

to reduce the density of something

Ex: The forest ranger thinned the trees in the forest to reduce the risk of wildfires and promote biodiversity .
to blur
to blur [verb]

to make something appear less clear or distinct

Ex: The artist used a soft brush to blur the edges , creating a dreamy effect .
to wrinkle
to wrinkle [verb]

to create folds or creases on a previously smooth surface

Ex: To give the antique map an aged appearance , the artist deliberately wrinkled the edges .
to crease
to crease [verb]

to cause a wrinkle or indentation on a surface

Ex: The child creased the pages of the book while flipping through it excitedly .
to crumple
to crumple [verb]

to crush, fold, or wrinkle something, resulting in irregular and uneven creases

Ex: He crumpled the napkin and used it to wipe the spill from the table .
to fold
to fold [verb]

to bend something in a way that one part of it touches or covers another

Ex: Before baking , she had to fold the pastry edges to seal the delicious filling .
to tangle
to tangle [verb]

to become twisted or knotted together in a confusing manner

Ex: The fishing lines tangled , requiring careful untangling before casting again .
to twist
to twist [verb]

to bend an object into a particular shape, such as wire, cloth, etc.

Ex: Using pliers , she carefully twisted the copper wire to create an abstract sculpture .
to intertwine
to intertwine [verb]

to twist or weave together, creating a complex and interconnected structure

Ex: The dance performance featured intricate movements , with the dancers ' bodies intertwining gracefully .
to warp
to warp [verb]

to bend or change shape, often due to pressure or exposure to heat

Ex: Over time , the old bookshelf started to warp due to changes in temperature .
to bend
to bend [verb]

to make something straight become curved or folded

Ex: He used his strength to bend the metal rod into a U-shape for the project .
to contort
to contort [verb]

to twist or bend something out of its normal or natural shape

Ex: The magician used sleight of hand to contort a simple balloon into the shape of various animals .
Verbs of Manual Action
Verbs for Giving Shape Verbs for Changing Shape and Appearance Verbs for Using Fingers and Palm Verbs for Seizing and Holding
Verbs for Using Pressure and Force Verbs for Handling Containers Verbs for Writing Verbs for Marking
Verbs for Covering Verbs for Placement Verbs for Decoration Verbs for Clothing