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10 Business English Verbs for Talking About Sales and Trends (With Practice Quiz)
- Erin West
- Apr 26
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 28
Welcome to the Business English Vocabulary Quiz!
We’re diving into some everyday Business English — the kind of verbs people use when talking about numbers going up or down.
Think sales, trends, prices, demand. You’ll learn useful Business English verbs for describing those fast increases and sudden drops.
Today’s Focus:
Learn powerful Business English verbs that describe a sudden, fast increase or decrease.
Today’s Challenge:
Stores are packed. People are buying gifts. Sales are booming everywhere. What’s the right verb to describe this big jump?
Sales usually _____ around the holidays.
A) split
B) spike
C) skip
D) stock
Choose the correct answer and test your knowledge of real Business English vocabulary!
Did you get it right?
SPLIT
verb
to divide something into two or more parts
We split the bill after dinner.
They split the work between two teams.
Let’s split the cost of the gift.
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SPIKE
verb
to suddenly increase a lot
Sales spiked during the holidays.
Prices spiked after the news.
Interest in the product spiked last month.
SKIP
verb
to decide not to do something
I skipped breakfast today.
She skipped the meeting yesterday.
Let’s not skip any steps.
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STOCK
verb
to fill a store or place with goods
They stocked the shelves with new products.
We need to stock more water for the event.
The shop stocks many types of coffee.
That's right! The correct answer is B) spike.
Learn More Business English Verbs for Describing Trends and Data Clearly
If you work in business, you probably talk about numbers all the time — sales, traffic, prices, performance. These things are always changing, and choosing the right verbs to describe those changes helps you sound clear and confident. Instead of always saying “went up” or “went down,” try mixing in words like spike, plummet, or climb — they add variety and give your message more impact.
In this section, you’ll learn some of the most common verbs native speakers use when talking about data and trends. Take this short business English quiz to help you practice.
Choose the correct answer and listen to each sentence. Then click 'EXPLORE' to read the definitions.
1.
Their stock _____ after the CEO resigned.
A) plummeted
B) plotted
C) pampered
D) polished
EXPLORE THE MEANING
That's right! The correct answer is A) plummeted.
PLUMMET
verb
to fall sharply and quickly in value or amount
Sales plummeted in the weeks following the scandal, forcing the company to cut spending.
2.
We’ve definitely lost ground — our market share has been _____ steadily since last summer.
A) shivering
B) shrieking
C) shredding
D) shrinking
EXPLORE THE MEANING
That's right! The correct answer is D) shrinking.
SHRINK
verb
to become smaller in size, amount, or value
Our market share has continued to shrink as new competitors enter the industry.
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3.
Profits _____ in the second half of the year due to rising production costs.
A) trembled
B) tumbled
C) mumbled
D) stumbled
EXPLORE THE MEANING
That's right! The correct answer is B) tumbled.
TUMBLE
verb
to fall suddenly and quickly in value, price, or amount
Oil prices tumbled to a two-year low amid global demand concerns.
4.
Our energy costs _____ last winter when temperatures dropped below freezing for weeks, and we had to keep the heat running around the clock.
A) balanced B) skyrocketed
C) projected
D) plunged
EXPLORE THE MEANING
That's right! The correct answer is B) skyrocketed.
SKYROCKET
verb
to rise extremely quickly
Operating costs skyrocketed last quarter due to unexpected disruptions and increased energy prices.
5.
Sales tend to _____ slightly right after the holidays, but usually pick up again in February.
A) dip
B) drip
C) nap
D) zip
EXPLORE THE MEANING
That's right! The correct answer is A) dip.
DIP
verb
to go down slightly for a short time
Our profits dipped in Q1, mostly due to higher shipping costs.
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6.
Shipping costs have _____ over the past year due to higher fuel prices.
A) secured
B) dwindled
C) diminished
D) soared
EXPLORE THE MEANING
That's right! The correct answer is D) soared.
SOAR
verb
to increase very quickly to a high level
Global demand for lithium has soared in recent years, driving up prices across the tech and automotive industries.
7.
Demand for remote collaboration tools _____ when companies shifted to hybrid work.
A) surged
B) compensated
C) merged
D) skirted
EXPLORE THE MEANING
That's right! The correct answer is A) surged.
SURGE
verb
to rise suddenly and powerfully
Electric vehicle sales have surged this quarter, especially in urban markets.
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8.
Profits continued to _____ throughout the quarter due to weak demand and rising costs.
A) sled B) slime C) slide
D) slant
EXPLORE THE MEANING
That's right! The correct answer is C) slide.
SLIDE
verb
to gradually decrease in amount, value, or quality
Our stock price slid by 8% last week amid market uncertainty.
9.
Foot traffic _____ a lot after we updated the store layout — people are actually stopping to browse now.
A) fell through
B) picked up
C) dropped out
D) pulled up
EXPLORE THE MEANING
That's right! The correct answer is B) picked up.
PICK UP
phrasal verb
to increase, improve, or become more active after being slow or quiet
Business tends to pick up in September, after the summer slowdown.
10.
Demand for air purifiers _____ during allergy season.
A) melted
B) delayed
C) withdrew
D) spiked
EXPLORE THE MEANING
That's right! The correct answer is D) spiked.
SPIKE
verb
to suddenly increase a lot in a short period of time
The number of support tickets spiked after the last update.
Thanks for taking the quiz — nice work!
Keep learning, keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to use these verbs next time you talk about sales or trends.
Click here to download your practice PDF
Click the image below to try another Business English Quiz!
Business English Vocabulary Quiz
Test Your Skills with a Longer Challenge!
FAQ: Business English Verbs for Sales & Trends
What’s the meaning of "spike" in business?
Spike (verb) = to suddenly increase significantly in a short period.
Sales spiked on Black Friday.
What’s the meaning of "plummet" in Business English?
Plummet (verb) = to fall very quickly and by a large amount.
The share price plummeted after the recall.
What’s the difference between "soar" and "surge"?
Both mean strong growth.
Soar (verb) = to increase very quickly and reach a much higher level. Focus: speed and height (ending at a high point).
Company profits soared to record levels last year.
Surge (verb) = to rise very suddenly and strongly for a short time. Focus: the sudden force or burst of growth, not always ending high.
Online traffic surged after the advertisement went live.
Key difference:
Soar = fast rise + staying high.
Surge = sudden, powerful rise (can be temporary).
What does "dip" mean in business?
Dip (verb) = to go down a little and for a short time.
Revenue dipped in January, then recovered.
What does "slide" mean?
Slide (verb) = to go down slowly and steadily over time.
Market share has slid for three quarters.
Tumble vs. plummet — are they the same?
Both are big drops.
Tumble (verb) = to drop quickly, often used for prices or profits.
Profits tumbled in Q2.
Plummet (verb) = to fall very suddenly and by a very large amount.
Crypto values plummeted overnight.
Difference: tumble = quick fall (big but not always extreme). Plummet = an even sharper, more dramatic drop.
What does "shrink" mean?
Shrink (verb) = to become smaller in size or amount.
The budget shrank after the cuts.
What does "skyrocket" mean?
Skyrocket (verb) = to rise extremely fast and very high.
Subscriptions skyrocketed after the viral video.
What does "pick up" mean?
Pick up (verb) = to increase or improve after being slow or quiet.
Foot traffic picked up after the new window display.
Which verb should I use when I care about speed and size?
Big, fast rise: spike, surge, skyrocket, soar
Big, fast fall: plummet, tumble
Small change: dip, edge up/down
Slow trend: climb, slide, shrink
What’s a simple template to report changes?
Noun + verb (+ time period) (+ reason)
Sales spiked last month due to the holiday campaign.
This article is brought to you by RealBusinessEnglish.com, where learning Business English is practical, professional, and just the right amount of fun.
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