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—
B. N. Cardozo
B. 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
: a word that combines characteristics of a verb with those of a noun or adjective compare gerund, infinitive, participle
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
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
Some of them have received some verbal notifications that their jobs are being terminated, but nobody else has gotten an official letter of termination. ...
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
After playing for so long together, Durant knew what plays Curry wanted to make without any verbal communication.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Trump floats new route to citizenship MAJOR HEADLINES AS IF! – 'Clueless' Dem mayor takes a verbal scorching from voter for trampling the Constitution.
—Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for verbal
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Adjective
Unclear support What form that verbal support would take is unclear.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
Some of them have received some verbal notifications that their jobs are being terminated, but nobody else has gotten an official letter of termination. ...
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
After playing for so long together, Durant knew what plays Curry wanted to make without any verbal communication.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Trump floats new route to citizenship MAJOR HEADLINES AS IF! – 'Clueless' Dem mayor takes a verbal scorching from voter for trampling the Constitution.
—Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for verbal
Cite this Entry
“Verbal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verbal. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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verbal
2 of 2 noun
: a word that combines characteristics of a verb with those of a noun or adjective
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