verbal
Spoken in words and not written on paper or a screen.
Expressed in spoken words instead of being written down.
About words and language, not about pictures, movement, or other ways of sending messages.
Relating to or involving words and language, especially as distinct from body language, images, or other nonverbal forms of communication.
Using words to hurt, attack, or insult someone.
Involving the use of words, especially spoken words, to criticize, insult, threaten, or attack someone.
About verbs in grammar, or made from a verb.
Relating to or formed from a verb, used especially in grammatical descriptions.
Good at speaking and saying what you think or feel; talking a lot or easily.
Able or inclined to express ideas and feelings easily in spoken words; talkative or verbally expressive.
- Base: verbal
verbal ability
1general language skill level
How good someone is at understanding and using language, especially in tests.
- The exam measures verbal ability as well as math skills.
- Children show different levels of verbal ability at a young age.
verbal abuse
1hurtful or aggressive speech
Very bad and cruel language that someone uses again and again to hurt another person.
- The coach was fired after reports of verbal abuse toward players.
- Verbal abuse at home can seriously damage a child's confidence.
verbal agreement
1spoken, not written, agreement
An agreement that people make by speaking, not by writing and signing a document.
- They had only a verbal agreement, so it was hard to prove in court.
- A verbal agreement can be legally binding, but a written contract is safer.
verbal attack
1strong spoken criticism
A strong and often angry way of speaking that criticizes or insults someone.
- The politician faced a fierce verbal attack from the opposition.
- Online verbal attacks can be very painful for teenagers.
verbal communication
1communication using language
Sending messages by using words, for example by speaking or writing.
- Good verbal communication is important in any relationship.
- The course focuses on both verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
verbal contract
1contract agreed by speaking only
A contract that people make by speaking, without writing and signing a document.
- They had a verbal contract, but the client later denied it.
- In some cases, a verbal contract is as valid as a written one.
verbal cue
1spoken signal or hint
A word or phrase that tells someone it is time to do something or answers how they should act.
- The teacher used simple verbal cues to guide the children.
- Actors wait for a specific verbal cue before entering the scene.
verbal diarrhoea
1talking far too much
When someone talks too much and too fast, in a silly or annoying way.
- He gets verbal diarrhoea whenever he's nervous.
- After two hours of her verbal diarrhoea, everyone was exhausted.
verbal diarrhoea
1talking too much without control
talking too much and saying things without thinking
- In meetings he can go on for ages—total verbal diarrhoea.
- She apologized for her verbal diarrhoea after the interview.
- The comments section was full of verbal diarrhoea and arguments.
verbal expression
1showing ideas or feelings in words
The way someone shows what they think or feel by using words.
- Art therapy can help when verbal expression is difficult.
- Young children may need support with verbal expression of emotions.
verbal fluency
1ease and speed of speaking
How easily and quickly a person can say many words correctly.
- The test is designed to measure verbal fluency in older adults.
- Bilingual speakers sometimes show higher verbal fluency in one language.
verbal fluency
1ability to produce words quickly
quickly finding and saying words (often in tests)
- The neurologist used a verbal fluency task to assess language function.
- Stress and fatigue can reduce verbal fluency.
- Participants completed a verbal fluency test in under two minutes.
verbal harassment
1hostile or unwanted speech
When someone often uses bad or unkind words to another person and makes them feel bad or unsafe.
- The company has strict rules against verbal harassment.
- Students reported verbal harassment from older classmates.
verbal instruction
1teaching given by speaking
Teaching or directions that a person gives using spoken words.
- The coach used verbal instruction instead of written drills.
- Some students learn better from visual aids than from verbal instruction.
verbal instructions
1spoken directions or orders
Directions that someone gives by speaking instead of writing them down.
- New staff received only verbal instructions on how to use the machine.
- Verbal instructions can be misunderstood, so written steps are helpful.
verbal promise
1spoken promise, not written
A promise that a person says but does not write down.
- He gave a verbal promise to repay the loan within a month.
- A verbal promise can be easily forgotten or denied.
verbal reasoning
1logical thinking with words
Thinking and solving problems by using and understanding words and sentences.
- Many entrance exams include a section on verbal reasoning.
- The test assesses verbal reasoning through short reading passages.
verbal report
1spoken report or update
Information that someone gives by speaking, not in a written document.
- The engineer gave a verbal report at the meeting.
- We need a written report, not just a verbal report.
verbal response
1answer given by speaking
An answer that someone says aloud, not writes.
- The child gave no verbal response to the doctor's questions.
- We need a written statement, not just a verbal response.
verbal skills
1ability to use words well
The ability to use words well when you speak or write.
- Her strong verbal skills make her an excellent presenter.
- The job requires good verbal skills and basic computer knowledge.
verbal tic
1unconscious repeated speech habit
A sound or short word that someone says again and again without wanting to, like a habit.
- Saying "you know" at the end of every sentence became a verbal tic.
- The comedian joked about his own verbal tics on stage.
verbal warning
1spoken warning about behavior
A warning that is given by speaking, often at work or school, to say that bad behavior must stop.
- The employee received a verbal warning for being late three times.
- Under company policy, a verbal warning comes before a written one.