verbal

[vur-buhl]

SEE MORE 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.
used in a sentence as or like a verb, as participles and infinitives.

noun

Grammar. a word, particularly a noun or adjective, derived from a verb.

RELATED WORDS

spoken

Origin of verbal

1485–95; < Latin verbālis, equivalent to verb(um) word (see verb) + -ālis -al¹

Related formsver·bal·ly, adverbin·ter·ver·bal, adjectivenon·ver·bal, adjectivenon·ver·bal·ly, adverbpre·ver·bal, adjectivesub·ver·bal, adjectiveun·ver·bal, adjectiveun·ver·bal·ly, adverb

Can be confusedoral verbal (see usage note at the current entry)verbal verbose

Synonyms for verbal

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR verbal ON THESAURUS.COM

3. 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for verbally

She was sexually and verbally abused, leading her to the brink of suicide.
A Quorum For Change: The Fight For Global LGBT Equality|Justin Jones|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For the next hour, she verbally humiliated him while he licked her boots and feet until they were completely cleaned.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix|Justin Jones|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In November 2013, a San Francisco man alleged that he was physically and verbally abused by an Uber driver.
More Bad News for Uber: Driver Arrested in Los Angeles Rape Case|Olivia Nuzzi|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As she speaks, she verbally italicizes words so that “as a person” sounds self-aware rather than psycho-babbly.
Jenny Slate’s Earnest and Funny Abortion Film ‘Obvious Child’|Caryn James|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

There are a number of words people use to verbally attack, dehumanize, and other transgender women like me.
RuPaul’s ‘She-Mail’ Exits Drag Race|Parker Molloy|April 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it is to be observed that the notices of the visitations are not mere repetitions, for they differ from each other verbally.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh|H. J. Lawlor
The banns were verbally published after the benediction following the conclusion of the Mass.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
This fact was first mentioned to me verbally by its discoverer, Faraday.
Hours of Exercise in the Alps|John Tyndall
You were pleased to inform me verbally, that my letter was referred to the committee, who were ordered to report immediately.
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. I|Various
He was immediately set upon by all the others and verbally torn to pieces on the spot.
Space Viking|Henry Beam Piper

British Dictionary definitions for verbally

verbal

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 Formsverbally, 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

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.

verbal

adjective

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Origin of verbal

Synonyms for verbal

Usage note

Examples from the Web for verbally

verbal

adjective

noun

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

verbal