verbalize

American  

[vur-buh-lahyz] / ˈvɜr bəˌlaɪz /

especially British, verbalise

verb (used with object)

verbalized, verbalizing

1. to express in words.

   He couldn't verbalize his feelings.

2. Grammar. to convert into a verb.

   to verbalize “butter” into “to butter.”

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verb (used without object)

verbalized, verbalizing

1. to use many words; be verbose.

2. to express something verbally.

verbalize British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• nonverbalized adjective
• unverbalized adjective
• verbalization noun
• verbalizer noun

Etymology

Origin of verbalize

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

Example Sentences

“Then try to work with me and I’ll see if I can’t verbalize it a little for them.”

From Literature

The unsaid words pushed roughly against the thoughts that we had no craft to verbalize, and crowded the room to uneasiness.

From Literature

Carolina at the window, feeling her scars, wanted to verbalize a memory, but couldn’t.

From Literature

I had no energy left to verbalize some First Lady-like excuse or even wave to my friends.

From Literature

But by forcing you to verbalize that memory—to explain yourself—I separate you from those instincts.

From Literature