verbal

1 of 2

adjective

ver·​bal ˈvər-bəl 

1

a

: of, relating to, or consisting of words

verbal instructions

b

: of, relating to, or involving words rather than meaning or substance

… a consistency that is merely verbal and scholastic.

—Benjamin N. Cardozo

c

: consisting of or using words only and not involving action

verbal abuse

2

: of, relating to, or formed from a verb

a verbal adjective

3

: spoken rather than written

a verbal contract

4

: verbatim, word-for-word

a verbal translation

5

: of or relating to facility in the use and comprehension of words

verbal aptitude

verbal

2 of 2

noun

: a word that combines characteristics of a verb with those of a noun or adjective compare gerund, infinitive, participle

Synonyms of verbal

Adjective

• linguistic
• communicative
• rhetorical

Examples of verbal in a Sentence

Adjective

He scored well on the verbal section of the test.

They had a verbal exchange.

a verbal agreement to finish the work

We gave only verbal instructions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The facial or verbal expressions of disgust are recognizably consistent across cultures. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026

That climaxes in a kaleidoscope of styles where Esteban, directing one scene, erupts in fury, reverting to a verbal and physical violence which Emilia obviously knew and suffered as child, Sorogoyen explains. —John Hopewell, Variety, 16 May 2026

Nestled between the layers is a genuinely heartfelt story that blooms from beneath all the aesthetic and verbal vulgarity, thus making innate, and intuitive, his ongoing, ever-evolving manifesto on the state of things. —Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 16 May 2026

Club Kid is funny, and filled with deft jokes, but there’s a stylistic exuberance to it that attests to how Firstman wasn’t just thinking in terms of verbal punchlines. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English verbale, borrowed from Late Latin verbālis, from Latin verbum "word, verb entry 1" + -ālis -al entry 1

Noun

borrowed from New Latin verbālis, noun derivative of Late Latin verbālis verbal entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing verbal

• procès-verbal
• verbal abuse
• verbal auxiliary
• verbal noun

Rhymes for verbal

• gerbil
• herbal
• nonverbal
• preverbal

Kids Definition

verbal

1 of 2 adjective

ver·​bal ˈvər-bəl 

1

: of, relating to, or consisting of words

verbal instructions

2

: of, relating to, or formed from a verb

a verbal adjective

3

: spoken rather than written

a verbal agreement

verbally

-bə-lē 

adverb

verbal

2 of 2 noun

: a word that combines characteristics of a verb with those of a noun or adjective