verbal
[vur-buh l]
- 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.
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- Grammar. a word, particularly a noun or adjective, derived from a verb.
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Origin of verbal
Synonyms
See more synonyms for verbal on Thesaurus.com3. spoken.
Usage note
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for verbally
Contemporary Examples
She was sexually and verbally abused, leading her to the brink of suicide.
For the next hour, she verbally humiliated him while he licked her boots and feet until they were completely cleaned.
Portman verbally endorsed same-sex marriage after his son came out as gay in 2013.
Bob Dole Says Rob Portman Won’t Support Disabilities Treaty Because He Supports Gay MarriageBen Jacobs
July 23, 2014
In November 2013, a San Francisco man alleged that he was physically and verbally abused by an Uber driver.
As she speaks, she verbally italicizes words so that “as a person” sounds self-aware rather than psycho-babbly.
Historical Examples
Tell him I would not send it verbally if I had my hands free.
The CavalierGeorge Washington Cable
You will have to read my mail every morning and answer it as I verbally direct.
A Singer from the SeaAmelia Edith Huddleston Barr
The conversation, it must be admitted, sounds commonplace when verbally recorded.
Tristram of BlentAnthony Hope
He said that in the most positive terms, verbally and in writing.
I told him all about my journey and related to him verbally the contents of Ballins letter.
Albert BallinBernhard Huldermann
verbal
- 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
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- 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
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- slang (of the police) to implicate (someone) in a crime by quoting alleged admission of guilt in court
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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
Word Origin and History for verbally
verbal
adj.
late 15c., "dealing with words" (especially in contrast to things or realities), from Latin verbalis "consisting of words, relating to verbs," from verbum "word" (see verb). Verbal conditioning is recorded from 1954. Colloquial verbal diarrhea is recorded from 1823.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper