500 common business verbs

by Andrew D. Miles
Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007
 500
Business
Verbs
Copy right by And re w D. M il es, Ba rcel ona , 2007.

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Cove r p hotograp h by And re w D. M iles

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Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

 amortize or amortise amortizar,
A depreciar
amount sumar
abandon abandonar analyse analizar

abate 1. suprimir 2. rebajar announce anunciar

appeal apelar
abrogate revocar, rescindir
appoint designar, nombrar
absorb absorber apportion asignar, repartir,
prorratear
accelerate acelerar, adelantar
appraise 1. tasar, valorar, valuar
accept aceptar 2. evaluar 3. peritar

accrue 1. acumular 2. devengar, appreciate apreciar, valorizar

periodificar approve aprobar
accumulate acumular arrange compaginar, organizar,
acquire adquirir ordenar
add 1. sumar 2. agregar assign asignar, adjudicar, traspasar
adjourn retrasar, aplazar attach 1. adjuntar, anexar
2. embargar, incautar, decomisar
adjust 1. ajustar 2. liquidar
attend asistir, atender
administer administrar, gestionar,
dirigir attest certificar, atestar
administrate administrar, gestionar, authenticate autentificar,
dirigir autenticar, refrendar
advertise anunciar, publicitar authorize or authorise autorizar,
habilitar, acreditar
advise 1. asesorar, aconsejar
2. avisar automate automatizar, sistematizar
affiliate afiliar award 1. adjudicar 2. conceder,
otorgar
age clasificar según antigüedad,
anticuar
agree acordar, pactar, convenir
B
aid ayudar, subvencionar
allocate asignar, afectar, distribuir back respaldar
allot asignar, dotar back up 1. hacer copias de
allow 1. permitir 2. reservar seguridad 2. respaldar
3. descontar balance balancear, cuadrar,
alter alterar saldar

amalgamate fusionar, amalgamar bargain 1. regatear 2. pactar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

barter permutar, canjear catalogue or catalog catalogar
bear devengar, rendir, producir, centralize or centralise centralizar
redituar certify certificar
benefit beneficiar change cambiar
bequeath legar cheapen abaratar
berth atracar amarrar claim reclamar, demandar
bid ofrecer, pujar (en una classify clasificar
licitación, concurso, subasta, etc.)
close cerrar, cesar, clausurar
bill facturar
coadministrate coadministrar
block bloquear, congelar,
code codificar
inmovilizar
codify codificar
board embarcar
coin acuñar
bond caucionar
coinsure coasegurar
book 1. reservar 2. asentar
collect cobrar, recaudar
bottle embotellar
collocate colocar
boycott boicotear
comanage coadministrar, codirigir
break even 1. llegar al punto de
equilibrio 2. estar en una situación combine combinar, consolidar,
en que los gastos son iguales que mancomunar
los ingresos commercialize or commercialise
break up 1. separar, dividir comercializar
2. desguazar
commission comisionar, dar en
bribe sobornar comisión, encargar

budget presupuestar communicate comunicar

buy comprar compensate 1. compensar

2. indemnizar

compete competir
C complain quejarse, reclamar
compound combinar
calculate calcular
compute computar, calcular
call llamar, convocar
conceal ocultar
cancel cancelar, anular, rescindir
condone condonar
cannibalize or cannibalise
confiscate confiscar, decomisar,
canibalizar
comisar, incautar
capitalize or capitalise capitalizar
conform conformar, aprobar,
carry transportar autorizar
cast 1. fundir 2. colar, vaciar consign consignar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

consolidate consolidar, fusionar defalcate desfalcar
consume consumir defer diferir, aplazar
contract contratar deflate deflactar
deforest deforestar
contribute contribuir, aportar
defraud defraudar, estafar
control controlar
delay retrasar, atrasar
convey 1. transportar 2. transferir,
traspasar delegate delegar
coordinate coordinar delete borrar

copy copiar deliver remitir, enviar, expedir,

despachar
corner monopolizar, acaparar
demonetize or demonetise
cost costar, valer desmonetizar
counsel asesorar, aconsejar demote degradar
count contar, arquear denationalize or denationalise
counterbid contraofertar desnacionalizar

counteroffer contraofertar deplete agotar

credit abonar, acreditar, imputar, deregulate liberalizar, desregular

registrar en el haber derive derivar
cumulate acumular design diseñar
customize or customise personalizar devaluate devaluar
cut cortar, rebajar devalue devaluar, desvalorizar
deviate desviar

D digitalize or digitalise digitalizar

digitize or digitise digitalizar

damage dañar, averiar dilute diluir

date 1. fechar, poner fecha, datar diminish disminuir, mermar,

2. citar decrecer

deal traficar, tratar, comerciar direct dirigir, administrar

decapitalize or decapitalise disburse desembolsar

descapitalizar disconnect desconectar
decentralize or desentralise dismiss despedir
descentralizar
display exhibir, mostrar
decide decidir
dispossess desahuciar, desalojar
declare declarar
dissolve disolver, liquidar
decode descifrar, descodificar
distribute distribuir, repartir
decree decretar
divest desinvertir

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

dock atracar exchange cambiar, intercambiar
document documentar execute ejecutar
draft 1. realizar en borrador, hacer exhibit exhibir, exponer
un esquema 2. delinear, dibujar
expand expandir
draw 1. dibujar 2. girar, librar 3. retirar
expire 1. caducar 2. vencer,
4. devengar, producir
prescribir
exploit explotar
E expose exponer
expropriate expropiar
earn 1. ganar, percibir 2. devengar, extend 1. extender, ampliar
producir 2. conceder
economize or economise extract extraer, resumir
economizar, ahorrar
extrapolate extrapolar
edit corregir un texto, redactar
embargo embargar
employ emplear F
empower delegar poder,
conceder poder, facultar, fabricate fabricar
capacitar, potenciar, habilitar
fail 1. fracasar, fallar 2. quebrar
enclose adjuntar
fall bajar, caer
encode cifrar, codificar
fall behind atrasarse.
encumber gravar, afectar
fall due vencer
endorse endosar, avalar, respaldar
file archivar
enlarge ampliar
finance financiar
enrol or enroll 1. v.t. inscribir,
matricular, registrar 2. v.i. inscribirse, fine multar
matricularse, registrarse. fire despedir
enter registrar, asentar, apuntar, flop fallar, fracasar
inscribir
flow fluir
erase borrar
fluctuate fluctuar, variar
erode erosionar
fold 1. cerrar o cesar operaciones
establish establecer
2. plegar, doblar
estimate presupuestar, tasar,
foreclose ejecutar
valorar, estimar
forge falsificar
evade evadir
found 1. fundar 2. fundir
evaluate evaluar
fragment fragmentar
examine examinar, revisar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

franchise dar en concesión o
indemnify indemnizar, compensar
franquicia, franquiciar
index indexar
free liberar
indorse endosar.
freeze bloquear, inmovilizar,
congelar industrialize or industrialise
industrializar
function funcionar
inflate inflar

G
inform informar
inherit heredar
inject inyectar
gain 1. incrementar, aumentar
2. beneficiarse
input ingresar

graduate 1. v.t. graduar

2. v.t. escalonar 3. v.i. graduarse,
recibirse, licenciarse, obtener el
J
título universitario
join 1. v.i. incorporarse, asociarse,
grant 1. otorgar, conceder 2. donar
unirse, hacerse socio, afiliarse
grow crecer 2. v.t. unir, juntar

guarantee garantizar, avalar

guard custodiar, cuidar, vigilar
K
key teclear
H
harvest cosechar
L
hedge proteger, cubrir
label etiquetar, rotular
help ayudar
labour or labor 1. trabajar, laborar
highlight resaltar, destacar
land 1. aterrizar 2. desembarcar
hoard acaparar, acopiar
lapse prescribir, vencer, caducar
hold tener, poseer
launch lanzar
hypothecate hipotecar, pignorar
launder blanquear, lavar, hacer
aflorar

I lead liderar, dirigir

legalize or legalise legalizar
import importar lend prestar
impose imponer let arrendar, alquilar
increase aumentar, incrementar limit limitar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

 navigate navegar
link enlazar, vincular
negotiate negociar
liquidate liquidar
nominate nominar, nombrar,
load cargar
designar
loan prestar
note anotar, apuntar
log registrar
notice avisar, notificar
lose perder
notify notificar
nullify anular, invalidar
M
maintain mantener
O
make hacer
object oponerse, objetar
manage gestionar, administrar,
dirigir occupy ocupar

manufacture fabricar, offer ofrecer, ofertar

manufacturar offset balancear, compensar
mark 1. marcar 2. poner nota, offshore| deslocalizar
calificar
open abrir
mature vencer, caducar
operate operar
measure. medir
optimize or optimise optimizar
merchandise comercializar
organize or organise organizar
merge fusionar, consolidar,
amalgamar outlay desembolsar

mint acuñar overcapitalize or overcapitalise

sobrecapitalizar
misappropriate malversar
overdraw girar en descubierto,
mix mezclar sobregirar
monopolize or monopolise overload sobrecargar
monopolizar
overproduce sobreproducir
mortgage hipotecar
overstate sobretasar, sobrevalorar
multiply multiplicar
overtrade comprar o vender en
demasía, comprometerse a

N comprar o vender más de lo que

name nombrar, nominar, designar
nationalize or nationalise
nacionalizar
se puede afrontar
overvaluate sobrevaluar
overvalue sobrevalorar,
sobrevaluar, sobretasar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

 preestrenar, avanzar
P
2.

print imprimir
private privado, particular
pack 1. empaquetar, embalar
2. envasar
privatize or privatise privatizar

participate participar process procesar

pass 1. v.i. aprobar 2. v.t. transferir, procure comprar, adquirir, obtener

pasar produce 1. producir 2. redituar,
pawn empeñar rendir, devengar

pay back devolver, reembolsar profit ganar, beneficiarse.

program or programme programar
pay in 1. pagar, desembolsar 2.
depositar, ingresar promote 1. promover, fomentar,
promocionar 2. ascender,
pay out pagar, desembolsar
promocionar
pay up pagar una deuda, pagar
prorate prorratear
por completo, cancelar
protest protestar
pension jubilar
publish publicar
perform rendir, desempeñarse,
funcionar, actuar purchase comprar
place colocar, posicionar purvey suministrar, proveer
plan planificar
plough back or plow back reinvertir
plough into or plow into invertir
Q
polish pulir quote 1. cotizar 2. ofertar,
poll sondear, encuestar presupuestar

pollute contaminar
position posicionar, colocar R
possess poseer
post 1. enviar por correo 2. asentar, raise 1. aumentar, incrementar
registrar 3. anunciar, publicar 2. recaudar

postpone posponer, prorrogar, rate 1. calificar, evaluar 2. tasar,

aplazar valorar
power propulsar rationalize or rationalise racionalizar
prefabricate prefabricar reacquire readquirir, recomprar
prefinance prefinanciar readjust reajustar
preliminary preliminar recapitalize or recapitalise
recapitalizar
prescribe prescribir
reconcile conciliar, reconciliar
preview 1. ver previamente

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

record 1. registrar, asentar 2. grabar restate 1. redefinir 2. tasar o valorar
de nuevo, actualizar
recover recuperar, rescatar
restrict restringir
recruit reclutar, contratar
restructure reestructurar, reconvertir
recycle reciclar
result resultar
redeploy reubicar, recolocar
retain retener
rediscount redescontar
revaluate revaluar
reduce reducir, rebajar
revalue revaluar
reexport reexportar
reverse invertir, revertir
refinance refinanciar
revise revisar
reimburse reintegrar, reembolsar
revoke revocar
reimport reimportar
rise aumentar, incrementar, alzar
reinsure reasegurar
risk arriesgar
release 1. liberar 2. estrenar, lanzar
robotize or robotise instalar robots,
relocate reubicar, recolocar robotizar
remit remitir, remesar rotate rotar, girar
remunerate remunerar round off redondear
render rendir, presentar, exponer rule dictaminar, fallar
renegotiate renegociar run 1. v.t. dirigir, administrar,
renew renovar gestionar, manejar 2. v.t. poner en
funcionamiento, hacer funcionar 3.
reorganize or reorganise reorganizar v.t. ejecutar 4. v.i. funcionar
repay reintegrar, devolver,
reembolsar
replace 1. reemplazar, sustituir S
2. reponer

reply responder save 1. ahorrar, economizar 2. salvar

3. guardar
represent representar
schedule planificar, programar,
reproduce reproducir
proyectar
reprogram reprogramar
seal sellar
repurchase recomprar
second secundar
request solicitar, pedir
segment segmentar
rescind rescindir
segregate segregar, separar
rescue rescatar
seize secuestrar, confiscar,
reserve reservar decomisar, embargar, incautar
resign renunciar sell off liquidar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

send enviar, remitir subcontract subcontratar
sublease subalquilar, subarrendar
settle 1. acordar, fijar 2. saldar,
liquidar, cancelar sublet subalquilar, subarrendar
settle up saldar cuentas, pagar subscribe suscribir
share participar, compartir subtract restar, deducir
ship remitir, despachar sue demandar
shop comprar sum sumar, totalizar
shorthand taquigrafiar summon convocar, citar, emplazar
show mostrar, exponer, exhibir supervise supervisar
smuggle contrabandear supply abastecer, aprovisionar,
sort clasificar suministrar

specialize or specialise support 1. apoyar, respaldar 2.

especializarse. mantener

speculate especular surcharge recargar, sobrecargar

spend gastar survey 1. encuestar 2. relevar,

peritar, reconocer, estudiar
spin hilar
suspend suspender
split dividir
sustain mantener, sostener
sponsor auspiciar, patrocinar,
promover swap intercambiar

square 1. cuadrar 2. elevar al systematize or systematise

cuadrado 3. cancelar, saldar sistematizar

squeeze restringir
stamp 1. sellar, timbrar 2. estampar,
imprimir
T
standardize or standardise
tag 1. etiquetar 2. codificar
estandarizar, normalizar
take on contratar
staple grapar, engrapar
tally hacer que algo cuadre, hacer
stock almacenar, tener en
que algo concuerde, cuadrar
existencias
tax gravar
stockpile acopiar
telecommute teletrabajar
store almacenar
telephone telefonear
streamline racionalizar
tend tender
strike declararse en huelga, ir a la
huelga, parar terminate terminar, rescindir
structure estructurar test 1. examinar 2. ensayar, probar
study estudiar total totalizar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

totalize or totalise totalizar
trader traficante, comerciante, W
mercader
traffic traficar warrant 1. justificar 2. garantizar,
asegurar
train 1. entrenar, adiestrar 2. instruir,
formar, capacitar waste malgastar, desperdiciar
transcribe transcribir watch vigilar, custodiar

translate 1. traducir 2. convertir 3. water diluir

trasladar wear 1. v.t. usar 2. v.t. y v.i. desgastar
travel viajar weigh pesar
treat tratar will legar
turn over rotar, girar wind up cerrar, cesar operaciones,
type mecanografiar liquidar
wire telegrafiar
withhold 1. retener 2. denegar
U write escribir
write down 1. reducir el valor,
underestimate 1. subvalorar, devaluar 2. apuntar, anotar
infravalorar, calcular por debajo write in agregar, incluir
del importe real 2. subestimar
underuse infrautilizar
undervalue subvaluar, subvalorar Y
unionize or unionise sindicalizar,
agremiar yield 1. redituar, rendir 2. producir
unload descargar
update actualizar
upload cargar
Z
utilize or utilise usar, usufructuar zone dividir en zonas, zonificar,
calificar

V
validate legalizar, validar
valuate valuar, tasar
vary variar
veto vetar

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007

And re w D. M iles is the d irec tor of
English for Business Barcelona,
Engl ish for Business M adrid
and English Phone

English for Business Barcelona

teaches English lessons to
companies in the
Barcelona area.

English for Business M adrid

teaches English lessons to
companies in the
Madrid area.

English Phone provides lessons

by telephone to students who
want to improve their oral
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www.barcelonaenglish.com
www.madridenglish.net
www.englishphone.biz

Copyright by Andrew D. Miles, 2007