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

It’s really hard to verbalize how I am feeling at this point.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2025

“If you’re able to intellectualize that information and verbalize, this isn’t for you,” she says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

The trauma was often too much for them to verbalize.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 29, 2023

As soon as a child is able to verbalize their identity, they are capable of knowing it.

From Salon • Oct. 17, 2023

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

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols