List of 92 Verbs of Cognition

Term	Explanation
analyze	break down and examine to identify components or structure and to explain and interpret
apply	use knowledge and understanding to respond to a situation
appraise	evaluate something's worth or significance
appreciate	understand or recognize the value of something
argue	challenge something; show reasons for being for or against something
assess	evaluate or estimate something
calculate	use a mathematical process or facts, figures, and information to determine or find something
categorize	sort or classify items into a specific class or group
clarify	explain something or make it clear so that one can understand
classify	use similar characteristics to arrange or put into specific categories
comment	give an opinion, observation, or reaction to something
communicate	make something known or understood
compare	look at similarities and differences and recognize the significance of those similarities and differences
compose/decompose	rewrite an expression or numbers with smaller quantities and group the numbers for easier computation. For example, 38 + 14 = 30 + 8 + 10 + 4 = 30 + 10 + 8 + 4 = 40 + 12 = 52
comprehend	grasp the meaning of something
conduct	carry out an action
consider	think carefully about something before making a decision
construct	make, build, create, or put something together
contrast	explain how things are different or opposite
count	recite numbers from the smallest to the largest
count on	recite numbers (starting with a number that is not the smallest whole number) in order
create	produce or think of something new
critique	give an opinion or review of something
decide	make a judgementj or resolution about something
deduce	take given information and come to a logical conclusion
define	state the meaning of something
demonstrate	show or illustrate something
derive	obtain something by reasoning
describe	use words to give an account of something
design	make a detailed drawing or plan
determine	use a method to figure out an answer
develop	to make something grow or expand
devise	think about and plan something
differentiate	find the differences in or between things
discriminate	mark or distinguish differences
discuss	use different ideas and opinions to talk about something
distinguish	realize that two or more items are different
document	use evidence to support something
estimate	make an approximate calculation
evaluate	determine the value or significance of something
examine	inspect or investigate something
execute	carry something out or put it into effect
exemplify	give an example
experiment	perform an experiment to discover or prove something
explain	give more details or facts to make something clear
explore	look into something in detail
express	give or show a clear idea of what something is
extend	expand an idea
extrapolate	extend a method or conclusion by projecting known information
find	discover unexpectedly
generate	cause something to be produced or created
hypothesize	make an assumption from known facts or observed occurrences
identify	establish who or what something is
illustrate	use an example to explain something
implement	carry out something or put it into effect
infer	use evidence or reasoning to make a conclusion
interpret	explain something or make it clear
investigate	carry out research to gain facts and make conclusions
judge	come to conclusion or make a decision about
justify	show that something is correct by supporting it with evidence
make a decision	arrive at a conclusion after looking at all options
manipulate	control or manage a situation to benefit from it
match	to make something the same or equal
measure	to find the size of something
modify	make changes in something
name	specify the mathematical term for an object
order	to put into a certain arrangement
organize	arrange into a specific order
predict	suggest that something will happen
propose	suggest a plan or idea
prove	demonstrate a truth
read	use a measuring tool to determine the magnitude of something
realize	make or become aware of something
recall	remember something
recognize	acknowledge that something exists
reflect on	consider something and think deeply about it
represent	take the place of something else
resolve	figure something out and find a solution
round	to express a number as an approximation
select	choose or pick out the best
sequence	place in a specific order
sketch	to draw in a rough or simple form
solve	arrive at an answer or explanation for something
sort	put something into place by categories
structure	form something into a specific pattern or arrangement
summarize	to tell something in sequence in a shortened version
symbolize	represent with a symbol
synthesize	combine many different parts
test	try something out
understand	comprehend the meaning of something
use	to set or put something into action

Need help with proofreading, translation, or resume writing? Contact us.