verbalise

IPA/ˈvɜː.bəl.aɪz/
IPA/ˈvɝː.bə.laɪz/

verbalise — verb

  • verbalisepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • verbalises3rd person singular
  • verbalising-ing form
  • verbalisedpast simple

1. to put thoughts, feelings, or ideas into words instead of keeping them inside.

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveC1
Definition

to put thoughts, feelings, or ideas into words instead of keeping them inside.

Example

Yumi finally verbalised her fear of moving to a new school.

verbalise + feeling noun

After the meeting, Noa verbalised the doubts several staff members shared.

verbalise + concern / doubt

Common collocations
  • verbalise feelings
  • verbalise fears
  • verbalise concerns
  • verbalise thoughts
Synonyms
  • express

    broader everyday verb that can also cover writing, art, or behaviour

  • articulate

    more strongly suggests speaking clearly and in an organised way

  • voice

    often used for opinions or concerns said in public or formal settings

Antonyms
  • suppress

    suggests deliberately pushing a feeling or reaction down

  • internalise

    suggests keeping thoughts or feelings inside instead of saying them aloud

Grammar Patterns

verbalise + noun (feeling / thought / concern)

verbalise + wh-clause

Usage Note

Often used when someone finally says a thought or feeling that has been difficult to explain. It can take a direct object, but it is also common without one when the focus is simply on beginning to speak openly.

Common Mistakes

She verbalised the meeting time to me.
She told me the meeting time.
'verbalise' is usually about turning thoughts or feelings into words, not about giving ordinary factual information.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These verbs all involve turning an inner thought into language, but they are used in different ways. 'Express' is the broad everyday choice and works for feelings, opinions, or ideas in speech, writing, art, or behaviour. 'Verbalise' is more formal and often stresses the moment when someone finally puts something difficult into words. 'Articulate' adds the idea of clarity and structure: a person may verbalise a fear without articulating it well. 'Voice' is often used for concerns, objections, or opinions said openly, especially in meetings or public discussion. You might express gratitude, verbalise childhood pain in therapy, articulate a complex argument in class, and voice concern about a new policy.

verbalise ↗express ↗articulate ↗voice ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • find it hard to verbalise
  • verbalise what you mean

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed from 'verbal' plus the verb-forming suffix '-ise'. 'Verbal' goes back to Latin 'verbum', meaning 'word', and reached English through French and later Latin-based scholarship. 'Verbalise' appeared in English in the 1800s with the sense of putting something into words. The '-ise' spelling is the standard British form; American English usually writes 'verbalize'.