verbose
Americanadjective
adjective
Synonym Usage
See bombastic.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of verbose
1665–75; < Latin verbōsus, equivalent to verb ( um ) word + -ōsus -ose 1
Explanation
If you're verbose, you use far more words than you need to. A verbose book report goes on and on and is packed with long, complicated words that aren't at all necessary. If a friend asks, "Did you have fun at the party?" you can simply answer, "No." Or you can provide a verbose reply that describes just how much you hated the party, who was and wasn't there, the fact that you got lost on the way, the terrible food that was served, and the awful music that was played. Verbose is from Latin verbosus, "full of words," from verbum, "word or verb." As you can guess from the spelling, the English verb is closely related.
Vocabulary lists containing verbose
100 Words to Make You Sound Smart
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "V"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Talk the Talk: Synonyms for "Wordy"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Verbose and imposing — he stood about 6 foot 2 and 250 pounds — he both courted media coverage and attacked the press, especially as it documented police abuses.
From New York Times • Jun. 3, 2020
Verbose descriptions had to go, and the age-old advice given to novice writers seemed especially pertinent to this assignment: Show, don’t tell.
From Slate • Oct. 8, 2013
In her earlier days, a few Times copy readers sourly labeled her "Verbose Annie" and cut her dispatches down to size.
From Time Magazine Archive
Verbose Matt Neely was a Senator in 1940, with two years to go, when he saw his political machine was beginning to cough and fall apart.
From Time Magazine Archive
Verbose, but has much wheat among the chaff.
From The Settlement of Illinois, 1778-1830 by Boggess, Arthur Clinton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
