verbally

adverb

ver·​bal·​ly ˈvər-bə-lē How to pronounce verbally (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When managers hear out employee hesitations and verbally reward inclusive behavior, norms are reinforced. Colleen Tolan, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025 The estranged pair is also barred from making disparaging remarks about the other parent to the children, either verbally or in writing. Danielle Bacher, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025 While walking the two men to a USBP vehicle, Wilkins, a bystander, began verbally abusing authorities, DHS said. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025 In 2013, Renken was disciplined for verbally abusive behavior toward an employee, according to court records. Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for verbally

Word History

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of verbally was in 1571

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Cite this Entry

“Verbally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verbally. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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