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to verbalize

to verbalize

1 6.1
To talk or write for a long time using many words when it is not needed
  • verb
  • /ˈvɜːrbəlaɪz/
  • US
translation icon : verbalizar
  • In his lecture, the professor verbalized his complex ideas clearly and thoroughly.

Examples

  • Over-verbalizing in relationships is another huge mistake men make.

    Blog text (4)
  • All this is being verbalized with people sitting there.

  • Despite all the warnings and anecdotes, there is an enormous amount of verbalizing about music.

    Academic text (1996)
  • What I find so dismaying is all the sour grapes being verbalized by the Obama team, most of whom have never held public office, either as an elected official or an appointed one.

    Blog text (22)
  • Thinking out loud does not mean that a leader has broad license to verbalize random thoughts with people beyond the trusted few, lest one be quoted in the carpool circuit with one's undeveloped and sometimes embarrassing musings.

    Academic text (2005)
  • She needed to verbalize her concerns about the project to ensure everyone understood the issues.

  • During the meeting, he tended to verbalize his opinions in a way that made everything sound more complicated than it was.

Synonyms

to say
vsto verbalize
1.0

Speak words to show information or feelings

is longer and often unnecessarily wordy rather than simply stating
to articulate
vsto verbalize
85 4.4

To say or write your ideas clearly so others understand

is more often unnecessarily wordy rather than clear and effective
to vocalize
vsto verbalize
14 4.4

To use your voice to show your thoughts or feelings

is about extended speech or writing rather than merely producing sounds
to dilate
vsto verbalize
  • Formal
2 7.5

To talk or write for a long time about a subject

is more often unnecessarily wordy instead of brief and direct
to discourse
vsto verbalize
  • Formal
1 7.8

To speak or write for a long time about a topic

is more often unnecessarily wordy, not merely formally detailed
to speechify
vsto verbalize
1 9.4

To give a long formal speech that sounds boring and self-important

is more broadly used for unnecessary wordiness in speech or writing
to expatiate
vsto verbalize
  • Formal
1 9.9

To talk or write for a long time about a subject

is more often unnecessarily wordy or verbose in expression
verbalized
vsto verbalize
  • US
4.5

Put into words rather than shown by actions

involves longer, often unnecessarily wordy expression rather than simple wording

How Wordy

to ramble
  • Informal
48 5.3
to verbalize
  • US
1 6.1
to speak
1.0
to say
1.0
to state
1.6

Surface Forms

verbalize infinitive
verbalized past
verbalized past participle
verbalizing present participle
verbalizes third person singular

Morphology

verbalize = verbal (semi-transparent) = verbal + ize

The core derivation 'make verbal' is clear, but the extended sense 'speak or write at length/wordily' is a pragmatic extension that is not strictly predictable from the components.

Etymology

Verbalize comes from the Latin verbum 'word' and the ending -ize 'to make', similar to verbal. That's why it can mean 'use words at length' — to speak or write many words about something.