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
People trust leaders who are emotionally anchored, not just verbally skilled.
—
Michelle De Almeida,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
By first and second grade, problems become more symbolic, are presented verbally and use numerals.
—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Queen Latifah, Teyana Taylor, Keke Palmer (who verbally expressed her approval on camera) and more gave their stamp of approval.
—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
Also, encourage creative outlets, such as journaling, drawing, music, or dancing—which allow children to express themselves non-verbally.
—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for verbally
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Michelle De Almeida,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
By first and second grade, problems become more symbolic, are presented verbally and use numerals.
—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Queen Latifah, Teyana Taylor, Keke Palmer (who verbally expressed her approval on camera) and more gave their stamp of approval.
—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
Also, encourage creative outlets, such as journaling, drawing, music, or dancing—which allow children to express themselves non-verbally.
—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for verbally
Cite this Entry
“Verbally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verbally. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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