Word
verbally
Phoneticsver·bal·ly
US/vɝˈbæɫi/
UK/vˈɜːbəli/
Definition
adv. using spoken words rather than writing or physical actions. You use this when you want to say that something was said out loud.
adv. by means of spoken words as opposed to written communication or physical force.
Examples
“She agreed to the plan verbally.”
“The manager gave the instructions verbally because there was no time to print a formal memo.”
“While the contract was never signed, the parties had reached a consensus verbally, which created a complicated legal situation when the project was eventually cancelled.”
Examples
simple
“She agreed to the plan verbally.”
contextual
“The manager gave the instructions verbally because there was no time to print a formal memo.”
complex
“While the contract was never signed, the parties had reached a consensus verbally, which created a complicated legal situation when the project was eventually cancelled.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of the clause.
Pitfall
He attacked me verbally with a letter
He attacked me in writing with a letter
Verbally refers specifically to spoken communication; it cannot be used for written words.
Real-World Examples
“The father of one of her children was verbally and physically abusive to Fortune, Spivey said.” “The manner in which haflala is to be applied in a given sector is often conveyed in a commander’s mission brief delivered verbally to other officers.” Etymology
From verbal + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
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englishreference.com/q/verbally