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

In Chapter 1 … Burge explains verbally, formally, and symbolically the system of notations to be used in the book.

—Datamation

b

: in spoken rather than written words

In the centuries before the Magna Carta, agreements were made and kept verbally.

—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

… is intended to express, whether verbally or in writing, or in any other way, the real process of thought.

—Trewin Copplestone

Although some prospects arrive at these football factories verbally committed to a college, most are still free agents.

—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

Some toddlers walk early and talk late; others are verbally precocious but happily creep and crawl until the middle of the second year.

—Susan Ochshorn

2

: as a verb

a noun being used verbally

Examples of verbally in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the course of the hour-long duration of the episode, which takes place at the reception for Tiffany and Frank’s wedding, Natalie and Francie verbally attack each other, share a vulnerable moment together, and eventually make up, settling their years-long beef. —Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 26 June 2025

Marte declined to comment about the incident after the game, according to the Arizona Republic and ESPN, though his teammates and coaches spoke out against sports fans verbally abusing players during games. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 25 June 2025

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Occhipinti verbally committed to UCF last week, adding his name to the Knights’ 2026 recruiting class. —Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 June 2025

And while several presidents have verbally pressured the Fed to keep rates low since 1951, none has made a formal move to limit its legal authority over monetary policy. —Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 22 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for verbally

• finale
• lethally
• alley
• alli
• bally
• calli
• challis
• dally
• galley
• galli
• lally
• mallee