verbal

[ vur-buhl ]

/ ˈvɜr bəl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR verbal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to words: verbal ability.

consisting of or in the form of words: verbal imagery.

expressed in spoken words; oral rather than written: verbal communication; verbal agreement.

consisting of or expressed in words (as opposed to actions): a verbal protest.

pertaining to or concerned with words only (as opposed to ideas, facts, or realities): a purely verbal distinction between two concepts.

corresponding word for word; verbatim: a verbal translation.

using words: verbal facility.

based on the use of words (as opposed to other activity): a verbal score in a test; verbal IQ.

Grammar.

of, relating to, or derived from a verb: verbal nouns and adjectives.
used in a sentence as or like a verb.
used to form verbs: the verbal ending “-ed.”

noun

Grammar.

a word derived from a verb, especially one used as a noun or an adjective, as, in English, a gerund, participle, or infinitive.
a word or words used in a sentence as or like a verb.

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of verbal

First recorded in 1485–95; from Middle French, from Latin verbālis, equivalent to verb(um) “word, speech” + -ālis adjective sufix; see word,-al¹

SYNONYMS FOR verbal

3 spoken.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR verbal ON THESAURUS.COM

usage note for verbal

3, 4. Verbal has had the meaning “spoken” since the late 16th century and is thus synonymous with oral: He wrote a memorandum to confirm the verbal agreement. Slightly earlier, verbal had developed the meaning “expressed in words, whether spoken or written (as opposed to actions)”: Verbal support is no help without money and supplies. Although some say that the use of verbal to mean “spoken” produces ambiguity, it rarely does so. Verbal is used in this sense in all varieties of speech and writing and is fully standard. The context usually makes the meaning clear: No documents are necessary; a verbal agreement (or contract or order ) will suffice. Oral can be used instead of verbal if the context demands: My lawyer insists on a written contract because oral agreements are too difficult to enforce.

OTHER WORDS FROM verbal

ver·bal·ly, adverbnon·ver·bal, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH verbal

verbal , verbose

Words nearby verbal

verandaed, verapamil, veratridine, veratrine, verb, verbal, verbal adjective, verbal auxiliary, verbal irony, verbalism, verbalist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for verbal

Most members of the San Diego City Council boycotted Tuesday’s closed session hearing in protest of City Attorney Mara Elliott’s decision to provide verbal rather than written legal reports after someone leaked information last week to NBC 7.
Morning Report: The Seditious Language Law’s Origin Story|Voice of San Diego|August 5, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The review board report ultimately concluded that Browder’s actions were reasonable only if he’d shouted verbal commands to Nehad prior to shooting him.
Police Review Board Was Denied Docs, Interviews in 2015 Shooting Review|Sara Libby|July 22, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Hernandez told investigators she reported being fearful of “verbal attack.”
Accusations Flew, Then National School District Official Got Paid to Resign|Ashly McGlone|July 20, 2020|Voice of San Diego
When staff finally released him –after everyone else in his building – he got into a verbal dispute with an officer who was working on the floor that night.
Donovan Inmates Plead for Protection, Allege Retaliation Following Lawsuit|Maya Srikrishnan|July 2, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Do you know how when we grew up, students would call themselves, proudly, verbal kids or math kids, so you could get an 800 on the verbal section even though you didn’t like numbers and you never had to encounter them.
America’s Math Curriculum Doesn’t Add Up (Ep. 391)|Steven D. Levitt|October 3, 2019|Freakonomics
In movies, that language, visual and verbal, has yet to be mastered.
Why Can’t Movies Capture Genius?|Clive Irving|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He reiterated the statements “I am not a politician” and “I am not a political advisor” so often that it seemed like a verbal tic.
Obamacare Architect: I Wanted to Sound Smart|Ben Jacobs|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Because of the verbal abuse and death threats coming my way, these women seemed to identify with me.
During Advent, Lots of Waiting, But Not Enough Hope|Gene Robinson|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The verbal irony in the story would have played well in the first century.
The Barabbas Theory of Voting: Bible Story Shows Tough Choices for Midterms|Jay Parini|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are no verbal crescendos; there is very little emotion and no drama at all.
Martin Luther King’s Nobel Speech Is an Often Ignored Masterpiece|Malcolm Jones|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Monny (after a sandy introduction) listened to these verbal vandalisms in horrified silence.
It Happened in Egypt|C. N. Williamson
"I shall have to check the verbal information after all," said Nigel as he put back his hat and papers on the table.
The Sixth Sense|Stephen McKenna
And this very age, which claims to admit only the force that is mathematically proved, will be extinguished by verbal idealism.
Very Woman|Remy de Gourmont
In this form the melody prevails over the matter; the style inclines to become precious and garnished with verbal artifice.
Studies in Literature and History|Sir Alfred Comyn Lyall
And Jefferson wielded his verbal cat-o'-nine-tails on Washington's order to put the rebellion down by armed forces.
The Life of John Marshall (Volume 2 of 4)|Albert J. Beveridge

British Dictionary definitions for verbal

verbal

/ (ˈvɜːbəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, or using words, esp as opposed to ideas, etcmerely verbal concessions

oral rather than writtena verbal agreement

verbatim; literalan almost verbal copy

grammar of or relating to verbs or a verb

noun

grammar another word for verbid

(plural) slang abuse or invectivenew forms of on-field verbals

(plural) slang a criminal's admission of guilt on arrest

verb -bals, -balling or -balled (tr)

slang (of the police) to implicate (someone) in a crime by quoting alleged admission of guilt in court

Derived forms of verbal

verbally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

verbal

adjective

noun

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of verbal

SYNONYMS FOR verbal

usage note for verbal

OTHER WORDS FROM verbal

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH verbal

Words nearby verbal

Example sentences from the Web for verbal

British Dictionary definitions for verbal

adjective

noun

verb -bals, -balling or -balled (tr)

Derived forms of verbal

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

verbal

adjective

noun

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of verbal

SYNONYMS FOR verbal

usage note for verbal

OTHER WORDS FROM verbal

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH verbal

Words nearby verbal

Words related to verbal

Example sentences from the Web for verbal

British Dictionary definitions for verbal

adjective

noun

verb -bals, -balling or -balled (tr)

Derived forms of verbal