Leech, G., P. Rayson & A.

Wilson (2001) Word Frequencies in Written and Spoken

English: Based on the British National Corpus. London: Longman.

be 42277 write 400 draw 224 pick 150

have 13655 set 398 die 220 prove 149
do 5594 move 391 hope 219 wear 149
will 3357 play 386 create 217 argue 149
say 3344 pay 381 walk 215 catch 147
would 2904 hear 367 sell 213 enjoy 146
can 2672 include 353 wait 213 introduce 144
get 2210 believe 347 shall 208 eat 144
make 2165 allow 342 cause 206 enter 143
go 2078 meet 339 pass 204 present 143
see 1920 lead 334 lie 203 point 142
know 1882 live 329 accept 202 arrive 142
take 1797 stand 326 watch 202 ensure 142
could 1683 happen 325 raise 196 plan 141
think 1520 carry 313 base 194 pull 140
come 1512 talk 308 apply 193 refer 138
give 1284 appear 307 break 193 act 137
look 1151 produce 304 learn 193 relate 134
may 1135 sit 301 explain 193 affect 133
should 1112 offer 293 increase 192 close 133
use 1071 consider 289 cover 191 manage 133
find 990 suggest 288 grow 191 identify 133
want 945 expect 288 report 189 thank 131
tell 775 read 284 claim 189 compare 130
must 723 let 284 support 188 obtain 127
put 700 require 284 cut 184 announce 127
mean 677 continue 283 form 184 note 126
become 675 lose 277 stay 183 forget 124
leave 647 add 275 contain 181 indicate 124
work 646 fall 273 reduce 178 wonder 124
need 627 change 273 establish 176 maintain 123
feel 624 remember 268 join 174 suffer 123
seem 624 remain 268 wish 170 publish 123
might 614 buy 262 seek 169 express 121
ask 610 speak 261 achieve 169 avoid 121
show 598 stop 255 choose 168 suppose 121
try 552 send 250 deal 168 finish 120
call 535 receive 247 face 164 determine 119
provide 505 decide 245 fail 161 tend 118
keep 505 win 241 serve 159 save 118
hold 481 understand 238 end 158 listen 118
turn 465 develop 237 occur 157 design 118
follow 460 describe 237 kill 157 treat 117
begin 440 agree 236 used 156 share 116
bring 439 open 235 drive 156 control 116
like 424 reach 234 represent 155 remove 115
going 417 build 230 rise 155 visit 115
help 416 involve 229 discuss 150 throw 115
start 414 spend 227 place 150 exist 114
run 406 return 225 love 150 encourage 113

*Frequency score of tokens per million words

force 113 perform 88 charge 69 handle 59
reflect 113 result 88 sleep 68 shout 59
smile 112 travel 88 grant 68 realize 59
admit 112 protect 87 prefer 68 influence 59
assume 112 adopt 87 commit 68 select 58
replace 111 confirm 87 threaten 68 account 58
prepare 111 let_'s 84 acquire 68 step 57
improve 110 stare 84 repeat 68 welcome 57
fill 110 demand 84 demonstrate 68 recall 57
mention 110 imagine 83 feed 67 secure 57
fight 108 beat 82 insist 67 climb 57
miss 108 attempt 82 launch 67 transfer 57
intend 108 born 82 promote 66 contact 57
drop 107 associate 81 limit 66 conclude 56
push 107 marry 81 measure 65 organise 56
hit 107 care 81 deliver 65 imply 56
discover 107 voice 80 retain 65 display 56
refuse 106 collect 80 own 65 disappear 56
prevent 106 employ 79 consist 64 illustrate 56
regard 105 issue 79 attract 64 dress 56
teach 104 release 79 promise 64 investigate 55
lay 104 mind 78 assess 64 direct 55
reveal 104 emerge 78 hide 64 generate 55
state 103 mark 77 reject 64 escape 55
operate 103 deny 77 belong 64 remind 55
answer 103 aim 77 contribute 64 rely 54
record 101 shoot 77 invite 63 succeed 54
depend 101 appoint 76 vary 63 advise 54
enable 101 supply 76 cry 63 hand 54
complete 100 order 76 impose 63 inform 54
cost 100 observe 75 sing 63 afford 54
sound 100 reply 75 warn 63 earn 54
check 100 drink 75 declare 62 fear 53
laugh 98 strike 74 destroy 62 approve 53
realise 98 settle 74 worry 62 vote 53
extend 97 ring 74 address 62 burn 53
arise 96 propose 74 name 61 matter 52
notice 96 ignore 74 head 61 last 52
define 95 link 74 ought 61 ride 52
fit 95 press 73 stick 61 jump 52
examine 95 respond 73 divide 61 match 52
study 94 survive 72 nod 60 gather 52
recognise 93 arrange 72 train 60 derive 52
bear 93 concentrate 71 recognize 60 conduct 52
shake 93 lift 71 clear 59 shut 52
hang 93 cross 70 undertake 59 elect 52
sign 93 approach 70 combine 59 cope 52
attend 91 test 70 spread 59 persuade 52
fly 90 experience 69 attack 59 recover 51
gain 89 touch 69 recommend 59 blow 51
estimate 51 incorporate 43 pour 37 found 32
score 51 stress 43 shift 37 sweep 31
slip 51 acknowledge 43 cast 37 distribute 31
hate 50 search 43 lock 37 capture 31
count 50 interpret 43 dance 37 enhance 31
lean 49 defend 42 invest 37 doubt 31
exercise 49 alter 42 kick 36 deserve 31
roll 49 arrest 42 race 36 award 31
attach 49 expand 42 kiss 36 phone 31
house 49 suit 42 light 36 bury 31
wash 49 tie 42 purchase 36 tackle 31
explore 48 analyse 42 retire 36 assure 31
rest 48 possess 42 monitor 35 borrow 31
accompany 48 bother 42 breathe 35 exceed 30
accuse 48 implement 42 bend 35 emphasise 30
judge 48 review 42 register 35 slide 30
bind 48 mix 41 celebrate 35 transform 30
steal 48 calculate 41 resist 35 qualify 30
stretch 47 resolve 41 print 35 cease 30
comment 47 assist 41 date 35 concern 30
withdraw 47 suspect 41 fire 35 advance 30
exclude 47 wake 41 organize 34 strengthen 30
focus 47 question 41 comprise 34 perceive 29
hurt 47 glance 41 swing 34 favour 29
pursue 46 rule 41 finance 34 practise 29
fix 46 reckon 40 detect 34 tear 29
back 46 appeal 40 range 34 scream 29
switch 46 specify 40 overcome 34 sustain 29
justify 46 guess 40 decline 34 participate 29
knock 46 damage 40 behave 34 pose 29
permit 45 restore 40 differ 33 lend 29
occupy 45 challenge 40 need 33 satisfy 29
surround 45 clean 40 guarantee 33 grab 29
lack 45 restrict 40 relax 33 smoke 29
list 45 distinguish 39 store 33 consult 28
benefit 45 urge 39 oppose 33 outline 28
appreciate 45 trust 39 resign 33 dry 28
paint 44 constitute 39 rush 33 adapt 28
connect 44 convert 39 waste 33 reinforce 28
abandon 44 submit 39 drag 33 adjust 28
engage 44 feature 38 pause 33 shrug 28
construct 44 land 38 pack 33 dig 28
complain 44 solve 38 install 32 snap 28
quote 44 sort 38 compete 32 ban 28
dominate 44 predict 38 sink 32 highlight 28
view 44 struggle 38 expose 32 encounter 27
blame 44 locate 38 whisper 32 pretend 27
separate 43 preserve 38 split 32 wave 27
proceed 43 owe 37 negotiate 32 request 27
dismiss 43 cook 37 mount 32 trade 27
sail 27 slow 23 witness 21 educate 19
rid 27 attribute 23 mutter 21 invent 19
amount 27 condemn 23 risk 21 abolish 19
confine 27 bound 23 accommodate 21 correct 19
trace 27 murder 23 brush 21 allege 19
absorb 27 spot 23 assert 21 frown 19
block 27 dare 23 book 21 march 19
entitle 27 cancel 23 age 21 fetch 19
delay 27 gaze 23 await 21 envisage 18
plant 27 wind 23 criticise 21 resemble 18
react 26 swear 23 spell 21 price 18
dream 26 telephone 23 trap 21 repair 18
fulfil 26 balance 23 comply 21 exhibit 18
flow 26 free 23 forgive 21 instruct 18
cite 26 reverse 23 initiate 21 resume 18
lower 26 inspire 23 undermine 21 plead 18
seize 26 modify 23 squeeze 21 insert 18
process 26 bet 23 evolve 21 export 18
swim 25 devise 23 stimulate 20 update 18
allocate 25 correspond 23 enforce 20 assign 18
communicate 25 prompt 23 provoke 20 cater 18
govern 25 convince 23 drift 20 concede 18
defeat 25 rub 23 in 20 opt 18
injure 25 guide 23 situate 20 persist 18
fund 25 shine 22 sense 20 isolate 18
protest 25 bite 22 emphasize 20 spin 18
stir 25 crash 22 research 20 disclose 18
hurry 25 hesitate 22 freeze 20 spring 18
smell 25 swallow 22 exchange 20 conceive 18
wander 25 integrate 22 hire 20 interfere 18
burst 25 induce 22 pop 20 regulate 18
exploit 25 greet 22 object 20 peer 18
pray 25 tap 22 recruit 20 fancy 18
sigh 25 murmur 22 beg 20 inherit 18
double 25 load 22 float 20 speed 18
undergo 25 translate 22 echo 20 regret 18
ease 24 knit 22 fade 20 extract 18
wipe 24 yield 22 consume 19 label 17
evaluate 24 admire 22 value 19 descend 17
compose 24 line 22 equip 19 boost 17
eliminate 24 render 22 progress 19 incur 17
wrap 24 disturb 22 reserve 19 facilitate 17
grin 24 shape 21 execute 19 fold 17
confront 24 flee 21 convey 19 please 17
remark 24 interrupt 21 park 19 excuse 17
interview 24 chase 21 unite 19 intervene 17
collapse 24 copy 21 twist 19 criticize 17
anticipate 24 leap 21 respect 19 conceal 17
weigh 24 devote 21 administer 19 tip 17
suspend 24 overlook 21 command 19 flash 17
advocate 17 subject 15 drown 14 dictate 13
breed 17 tremble 15 activate 14 stroke 13
grasp 17 signal 15 diminish 14 confuse 13
explode 17 enclose 15 rain 14 underline 13
assemble 17 commence 15 bang 14 confer 13
upset 17 taste 15 arouse 14 position 13
commission 17 halt 15 suppress 14 clutch 13
embrace 17 tighten 15 slam 14 bounce 13
decorate 17 discharge 15 transmit 14 pin 13
drain 17 top 15 rent 14 counter 13
edit 17 draft 15 neglect 14 grip 13
contemplate 17 enquire 15 tour 14 prescribe 13
strip 17 erect 15 entertain 14 long 13
function 17 hunt 15 fling 14 merge 13
rescue 17 access 15 spill 14 proclaim 13
cling 17 smash 15 figure 14 conform 13
deem 16 depict 15 tax 14 term 13
centre 16 inspect 15 cool 14 sack 13
sponsor 16 spoil 15 compile 14 heat 13
reproduce 16 target 15 transport 14 crush 12
confess 16 reward 15 entail 14 attain 12
contract 16 file 15 reassure 14 trigger 12
decrease 16 relieve 15 embark 14 renew 12
endorse 16 contrast 15 bow 14 cheer 12
coincide 16 seal 15 deprive 14 rip 12
spare 16 round 15 revive 14 frighten 12
creep 16 precede 15 sentence 14 shiver 12
schedule 16 originate 15 campaign 14 arm 12
ship 16 tuck 15 supplement 14 total 12
dump 16 clarify 14 project 14 dislike 12
market 16 bid 14 part 13 boast 12
vanish 16 melt 14 forbid 13 embody 12
scatter 16 thrust 14 effect 13 stamp 12
shop 16 widen 14 calm 13 weep 12
sue 16 summon 14 manipulate 13 penetrate 12
stage 16 amend 14 debate 13 multiply 12
tempt 16 desire 14 chat 13 stuff 12
import 16 compensate 14 time 13 exert 12
formulate 16 couple 14 punish 13 abuse 12
classify 16 plunge 14 supervise 13 compel 12
aid 16 depart 14 substitute 13 presume 12
advertise 16 circulate 14 convict 13 scratch 12
impress 16 characterise 14 strain 13 boil 12
crack 16 surprise 14 flood 13 exhaust 12
suck 16 sum 14 dedicate 13 snatch 12
dispose 16 guard 14 rebuild 13 motivate 12
dissolve 16 stem 14 toss 13 inhibit 12
warm 15 weaken 14 regain 13 prevail 12
omit 15 shed 14 characterize 13 colour 12
praise 15 manufacture 14 disagree 13 rate 12
yell 12 endure 11 evoke 10
carve 12 screen 11 invade 10
deposit 12 lodge 11 credit 10
dip 12 sniff 11 chop 10
wound 12 insure 11 diagnose 10
alert 12 preach 11 smooth 10
divert 12 weave 11 root 10
gasp 12 desert 11 equal 10
fine 12 empty 11 rob 10
surrender 12 flush 11 foster 10
picture 12 plot 11 inject 10
scan 12 drill 11 chew 10
revise 12 host 11
fuck 12 frame 11
summarise 12 prosecute 11
crawl 12 type 11
tolerate 12 pile 11
differentiate 12 chair 11
pronounce 12 spit 11
survey 12 glare 11
accumulate 12 furnish 11
curl 12 screw 11
specialise 12 dive 11
trouble 12 accelerate 11
honour 12 fish 11
stride 12 inflict 11
dare 12 kneel 11
steer 12 stab 11
obey 12 postpone 11
narrow 12 pledge 10
mistake 11 co-ordinate 10
quit 11 obscure 10
discourage 11 rock 10
repay 11 comfort 10
joke 11 roar 10
trail 11 straighten 10
cure 11 flourish 10
model 11 swell 10
terminate 11 donate 10
divorce 11 offset 10
apologise 11 level 10
designate 11 prohibit 10
seat 11 accord 10
service 11 demolish 10
stumble 11 strive 10
bless 11 venture 10
document 11 harm 10
haul 11 indulge 10
exclaim 11 invoke 10
flick 11 nominate 10