Adventure recognizes one and two word phrases, but only the first 5 letters of each word. Sometimes the first word can be a noun. For example, when near the building at start of game, typing BUILD takes you inside it. Or, the player might type noun-verb command like LAMP ON. More often, the first word is a verb. An intransitive verb, a verb without object specified, can also be used. DRINK causes the game to look for something drinkable at the location. It complains if nothing is found or if there is more than one possibility.
Below are categorized words that adventure recognizes. Synonyms are slash separated.
| ACROS | AWKWA | BACK/RETUR/RETRE | BARRE |
| BEDQU | BED | BROKE | BUILD/HOUSE |
| CANYO | CAVER | CAVE | CLIMB |
| COBBL | CRACK | CRAWL | CROSS |
| DARK | D/DOWNW/DOWN/DESCE | DEBRI | DEPRE |
| DOME | DOWNS | EAST/E | ENTER |
| ENTRA | FLOOR | FORES | FORK |
| FORWA/CONTI/ONWAR | GIANT | GULLY | HALL |
| HOLE | INWAR/INSID/IN | JUMP | LEFT |
| LOOK/EXAMI/TOUCH/DESCR | LOW | MAIN/OFFIC | NE |
| NORTH/N | NULL/NOWHE | NW | ORIEN |
| OUTDO | OUT/OUTSI/EXIT/LEAVE | OVER | PASSA/TUNNE |
| PIT | PLOVE | PLUGH | RESER |
| RIGHT | ROAD/HILL | ROCK | ROOM |
| SECRE | SE | SHELL | SLAB/SLABR |
| SLIT | SOUTH/S | STAIR | STEPS |
| STREA | SURFA | SW | UPSTR |
| UPWAR/UP/U/ABOVE/ASCEN | VALLE | VIEW | WALL |
| WEST/W | XYZZY | Y2 |
| AXE | BATTE | BEAR | BIRD |
| BOTTL/JAR | CAGE | CARPE/MOSS | CHASM |
| CLAM | DOOR | DRAGO | DRAWI |
| DWARF/DWARV | FISSU | FOOD/RATIO | GRATE |
| KEYS/KEY | KNIFE/KNIVE | LAMP/HEADL/LANTE | MACHI/VENDI |
| MAGAZ/ISSUE/SPELU/"SPEL | MESSA | MIRRO | OIL |
| OYSTE | PILLO/VELVE | PIRAT | PLANT/BEANS |
| ROD | SHADO/FIGUR | SNAKE | STALA |
| STEPS | TABLE | TROLL | VOLCA/GEYSE |
| WATER/H2O |
| Treasure | Points |
| GOLD/NUGGE | 12 |
| DIAMO | 12 |
| BARS/SILVE | 12 |
| JEWEL | 12 |
| COINS | 12 |
| BOX/CHEST/TREAS | 14 |
| EGG/EGGS/NEST | 16 |
| TRIDE | 16 |
| MING/POTTE/SHARD/VASE | 16 |
| EMERA | 16 |
| PLATI/PYRAM | 16 |
| PEARL | 16 |
| PERSI/RUG | 16 |
| SPICE | 16 |
| CHAIN | 16 |
| ATTAC/FIGHT/HIT/ KILL/SLAY/STRIK |
BLAST/BLOWU/ DETON/IGNIT |
BREAK/SHATT/ SMASH/ |
BRIEF |
| CALM/PLACA/TAME | CAPTU/CARRY/CATCH/ GET/KEEP/STEAL/ TAKE/TOTE |
CHANT/MUMBL/SAY/ SING/UTTER |
CLOSE/LOCK |
| CONTI/EXPLO/FOLLO/GO/ GOTO/PROCE/RUN/TRAVE/ TURN/WALK |
DEVOU/EAT | DISCA/DROP/DUMP/ FREE/RELEA |
DISTU/WAKE |
| DRINK | EXTIN/OFF | FEE/FIE/FOE/ FOO/FUM |
FEED |
| FILL | FIND/WHERE | HOURS | INVEN |
| LIGHT/ON | NOTHI | OPEN/UNLOC | PAUSE/SAVE/SUSPE |
| PERUS/READ | POUR | QUIT | RESUM |
| RUB | SCORE | SHAKE/SWING/WAVE | THROW/TOSS |
| ?/HELP | ABRA/ABRAC/HOCUS/POCUS/ OPENS/SESAM/SHAZA |
DIG/EXCAV | FEE |
| FIE | FOE | FOO | FUM |
| FUCK | INFO/INFOR | LOST | MIST |
| STOP | SWIM | TREE/TREES |