orally

adverb

oral·​ly ˈȯr-ə-lē How to pronounce orally (audio)
ˈär-
1
: in spoken words : by means of speech
The exam will be given orally.
an orally presented argument
Deaf, signing parents will "babble" to their infants in sign, just as hearing parents do orally; this is how the child learns language …Oliver Sacks
2
: by way of the mouth
The medicine can be administered orally.
Another example is amygdalin, which is found in the pits of peaches and apricots. If consumed orally, it is approximately 40 times more toxic than by intravenous injection …Des W. Connell

Examples of orally in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For long-term maintenance therapy, your veterinarian may suggest administering steroids, first orally, until the cat is stabilized, and then via a metered dose inhaler. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025 Eleven of 12 infants who received a higher dose of the therapy were able to sit unassisted, speak and be fed orally. Robin Fields, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025 There are a few forms of testosterone, including pellets injected under the skin, pills taken orally, and topical gels and creams. Angela Haupt, TIME, 19 Feb. 2025 Literary historian Paul Zumthor argues that poetry with a purely oral tradition in that era invoked an open discourse, while written poetry, still communicated orally, made up a closed discourse. David Silverberg, JSTOR Daily, 29 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for orally

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of orally was in 1608

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Cite this Entry

“Orally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orally. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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