orally
Americanadverb
-
through or by means of speech; vocally.
The agreement cannot be changed or terminated orally; all changes must be made in writing.
First written down millenia ago, the ancient Vedic texts continue to be passed down orally even today.
-
through or by means of the mouth.
These medications can either be taken orally or injected under the skin.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of orally
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Most divers were illiterate, and passed down their skills orally.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Warnings passed from block to block, orally and digitally.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
The researchers then gave the microspheres orally to mice with varying levels of colitis, ranging from no disease activity to severe inflammation.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 21, 2025
“It’s going to be a lot of work. I’m not just going to orally say yes go ahead and dismiss the case, case dismissed,” the judge said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2025
Pupils are required to unite the prefixes and suffixes with the radicals, thus forming the English derivatives, which may be given either orally or in writing.
From New Word-Analysis by William Swinton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
