verbally

American  

[vur-buh-lee] / ˈvɜr bə li /

adverb

1. using spoken words rather than written words; orally.

   The committee verbally OK’d the park renewal plan.

2. by the use of words, rather than by physical means.

   Pain inflicted verbally can leave deep, invisible scars.

3. Grammar. with the function of a verb.

   When used verbally, the term ‘bird-dog’ is hyphenated.

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Other Word Forms

• nonverbally
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of verbally

First recorded in 1570–70; verbal ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

verbally

At the start of Hoy’s career, those calls were typically made verbally, meaning Hoy would have to turn around and look at the umpire to find out if a pitch was a ball or strike.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

The court heard that the boy has severe autism and cannot verbally communicate, and is unable to make decisions about his welfare.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Now, Eatherly’s ilk gloats about verbally terrorizing American citizens going about their day-to-day lives on American streets and beams this content around the globe for money.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

“I have been attacked again and again, and I am the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

Paranoid got tacked on about a year later, after I verbally attacked a librarian for trying to hand me propaganda pamphlets for an underground Communist force operating out of the basement of the public library.

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia

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