verbally
adverb
ver·bal·ly
ˈvər-bə-lē 
1
a
: in words : through or by the use of words
Yet it seems whenever somebody writes about him, Sheen gets verbally slugged for not driving around in some beat-up old Chevy.—
Hal Rubenstein
Hal RubensteinIn Chapter 1 … Burge explains verbally, formally, and symbolically the system of notations to be used in the book.—Datamation
Datamation
b
: in spoken rather than written words
In the centuries before the Magna Carta, agreements were made and kept verbally.—Janeen R. Adil
Janeen R. Adil… John's will was not a written will. It was a nuncupative will, which means on his deathbed, John verbally told persons how he wanted his estate divided or dispensed.—Sharon Tate Moody
Sharon Tate Moody… is intended to express, whether verbally or in writing, or in any other way, the real process of thought.—Trewin Copplestone
Trewin CopplestoneAlthough some prospects arrive at these football factories verbally committed to a college, most are still free agents.—Bruce Feldman
Bruce Feldman
c
: with regard to words or language
Lessing has never been an elegant writer. At her better and best, she is cranky, … pleonastic, defensive, and verbally self-indulgent.—Susan Lardner
Susan LardnerSome toddlers walk early and talk late; others are verbally precocious but happily creep and crawl until the middle of the second year.—Susan Ochshorn
Susan Ochshorn2
: as a verb
a noun being used verbally
Examples of verbally in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Reductions in pupil responsiveness to light, accuracy and speed of rapid fixation eye movements, and the ability to verbally read aloud a series of numbers appear to be reasonably reliable markers for Alzheimer’s disease, Singman notes.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 27 May 2025
Throughout 40 hours of interviews, Reubens, a perfectionist, and Wolf verbally tussle over control on the project.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Throughout Wednesday, groups of men were spotted detaining individuals inside the downtown courthouse, with many of those agents wearing badges or verbally identifying themselves as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, according to four attorneys.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Using three-way communication—delivering a message verbally, reinforcing it in writing and confirming understanding through feedback—enhances accuracy, ensures alignment and fosters a supportive environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for verbally
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Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 27 May 2025
Throughout 40 hours of interviews, Reubens, a perfectionist, and Wolf verbally tussle over control on the project.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Throughout Wednesday, groups of men were spotted detaining individuals inside the downtown courthouse, with many of those agents wearing badges or verbally identifying themselves as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, according to four attorneys.
—Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Using three-way communication—delivering a message verbally, reinforcing it in writing and confirming understanding through feedback—enhances accuracy, ensures alignment and fosters a supportive environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for verbally
Cite this Entry
“Verbally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verbally. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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