VERBAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does verbal mean? 

• VERBAL (adjective)
  The adjective VERBAL has 6 senses:

1. communicated in the form of words

2. of or relating to or formed from words in general

3. of or relating to or formed from a verb

4. relating to or having facility in the use of words

5. expressed in spoken words

6. prolix

  Familiarity information: VERBAL used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VERBAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Communicated in the form of words

Context example:

a verbal protest

Similar:

communicative; communicatory (able or tending to communicate)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to or formed from words in general

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

verbal ability

Pertainym:

word (a unit of language that native speakers can identify)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Of or relating to or formed from a verb

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

verbal adjectives like 'running' in 'hot and cold running water'

Pertainym:

verb (the word class that serves as the predicate of a sentence)

Derivation:

verb (the word class that serves as the predicate of a sentence)

verb (a content word that denotes an action, occurrence, or state of existence)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Relating to or having facility in the use of words

Context example:

verbal aptitude

Antonym:

numerical (relating to or having ability to think in or work with numbers)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Expressed in spoken words

Context example:

a verbal contract

Similar:

spoken (uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Prolix

Context example:

you put me to forget a lady's manners by being so verbal

Similar:

prolix (tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length)

Domain usage:

archaicism; archaism (the use of an archaic expression)

 Context examples 

Mercury is retrograde, so don’t make a written or even verbal agreement just yet.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

A written or verbal account, representation, statement, or explanation of something.

(Description, NCI Thesaurus)

Mr. Peggotty nodded his understanding of my aunt's feelings, but could not trust himself with any verbal reference to the subject of her commendation.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The invitation was refused, and by a verbal message.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

This version is modified from A. Rey in 1964 and is used to evaluate verbal learning and memory abilities in both children and adults.

(Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Auditory Verbal Learning Test Questionnaire, NCI Thesaurus)

Provides a short, individually administered assessment of the strategies and processes involved in learning and recall of verbal material.

(California Verbal Learning Test, Children's Version, NCI Thesaurus)

Not as a business matter, for these arrangements are usually verbal, and there was no earthly business reason why this should be an exception.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A category of disorders characterized by an impairment in the development of an individual's language capabilities, which is in contrast to his/her non-verbal intellect.

(Language Disorder, NCI Thesaurus)

An assessment tool to ascertain verbal learning and memory skills that is well tolerated by those with moderate to severe dementia.

(Hopkins Verbal Learning Test Revised, NCI Thesaurus)

Impairment of verbal communication skills, often resulting from brain damage.

(Dysphasia, NCI Thesaurus)