verbalize

[ vur-buh-lahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, ver·bal·ized, ver·bal·iz·ing.

1. to express in words:

   He couldn't verbalize his feelings.

2. Grammar. to convert into a verb:

   to verbalize “butter” into “to butter.”

verb (used without object)

, ver·bal·ized, ver·bal·iz·ing.

1. to use many words; be verbose.
2. to express something verbally.

verbalize

/ ˈvɜːbəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to express (an idea, feeling, etc) in words
2. to change (any word that is not a verb) into a verb or derive a verb from (any word that is not a verb)
3. intr to be verbose

Derived Forms

• ˈverbalˌizer, noun
• ˌverbaliˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• verbal·i·zation noun
• verbal·izer noun
• non·verbal·ized adjective
• un·verbal·ized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of verbalize¹

First recorded in 1600–10; verbal + -ize; compare French verbaliser

Example Sentences

I verbalized what I wanted to accomplish, and then I went and did it every day.

From Ozy

Her voice is all grace and clarity as it moves across her throat, but when it’s time to verbalize the melody, she becomes artfully tentative, making her lyrics go soft and chewy in her mouth.

From Washington Post

It brings back how hard it was to speak up, to verbalize it all for the first time.

From Washington Post

Remote experiences deny therapists the nonverbal signals—how a person is sitting, bodily ticks like foot-tapping—that help them observe feelings a client isn’t verbalizing.

From MIT Technology Review

As she told The Lily earlier this year, writing was a means of self-expression when she found herself unable to verbalize her thoughts.

From Washington Post

Whether she can verbalize it or not, family does seemingly come first.

From The Daily Beast

In trying to explain and verbalize their shock, many British Jews made reference, in some way or another, to the Blood Libel.

From The Daily Beast

They wont have to wait for the Council to verbalize a measure.

From Project Gutenberg

It was getting tiresome to try to verbalize something she only felt.

From Project Gutenberg

It is induced in his hearers, and they verbalize it, re-enforcing it in themselves and in him.

From Project Gutenberg