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
Cite this Entry
“Verbally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verbally. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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