verbal

[ vur-buhl ]

/ ˈvɜr bəl /

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See synonyms for: verbal / verbally 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR verbal

3 spoken.

See synonyms for verbal on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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

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 abuse, verbal adjective, verbal auxiliary, verbal irony, verbalism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use verbal in a sentence

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
These were cops who had worked the protests and suffered the accompanying verbal taunts and abuse.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And then there was the unrelenting verbal abuse of cops simply because they are cops.
Protesters Slimed This Good Samaritan Cop|Michael Daly|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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
These are few and verbal, but momentous, and were not made without consultation of many critical authorities and versions.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
A verbal narrative has of course in itself nothing similar to the scenes and events of which it tells.
Children's Ways|James Sully
These brilliant results were arrived at after much clamour and argument and imposing procès verbal.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
I resolved to investigate the matter, as it was only verbal, so that it might not become public.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
When thus acting his authority may be either verbal, or written, or may be shown by ratification.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles

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

verbal

OTHER WORDS FOR verbal

Origin of verbal

usage note for verbal

OTHER WORDS FROM verbal

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH verbal

Words nearby verbal

Words related to verbal

How to use verbal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for verbal

Derived forms of verbal