verbal
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.spoken rather than written down.
adj.expressed in spoken words; oral rather than written.
Simple“The two managers reached a verbal agreement, but they still need to sign the contract.”
In context“While a verbal agreement may be legally binding in certain jurisdictions, most solicitors advise securing a written document to prevent future disputes.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.relating to words or the use of words.
adj.of or relating to words, or the ability to use words effectively.
Simple“The exam includes a verbal reasoning section to test your vocabulary.”
In context“The candidate demonstrated exceptional verbal skills during the interview, articulating complex technical concepts with remarkable clarity.”
SynonymsAntonymsnon verbalvisual - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to a verb or coming from a verb.
adj.derived from or having the nature of a verb.
Simple“A gerund is a verbal noun that ends in -ing.”
In context“The professor explained how verbal adjectives can retain the tense and voice of their parent verbs while functioning as modifiers.”
UsageOften used to describe nouns or adjectives that function like verbs.
Synonymsvocalic - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.insults or aggressive talk directed at someone.
n.informal talk, especially in the form of banter, scolding, or verbal abuse.
Simple“The players were giving each other some verbal during the match.”
In context“The referee had to intervene when the light-hearted banter between the opposing fans turned into aggressive verbal.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to claim that someone said something, usually a confession, when they actually did not.
v.to falsely attribute a spoken confession or statement to a suspect.
Simple“The prisoner claimed that the detectives had verballed him to get a conviction.”
In context“The investigation revealed that the officers had systematically verballed suspects to secure convictions in high-profile cases.”
UsageTransitive verb; usually used in the context of police misconduct.
verbal vs oral — Oral refers exclusively to spoken communication, while verbal relates to the use of words in any form, whether written or spoken.
“Teachers also report similar experiences , including excessive communication demands, verbal abuse and threatening behavior.”
“In addition to educational opportunities and obstacles, a student’s verbal and math abilities can be influenced by personal characteristics, Oswald says.”
From Old French verbal, from Late Latin verbālis (“belonging to a word”). Equivalent to verb + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.