Meaning & use
aurally
Last updated
Meaning
adverb
In a way that relates to hearing or the ears, rather than to sight or touch.
Grammar: Used to describe how something is experienced or done through the sense of hearing; often modifies verbs like 'learn', 'perceive', or 'process'.
Patterns
- learn something aurally
- present something aurally
- aurally impaired
Many students learn new vocabulary more effectively aurally, by listening to recordings.
The alarm system alerts residents both visually and aurally.
She prefers to receive instructions aurally rather than in writing.
Common combinations
- aurally impaired
- The school provides special equipment for aurally impaired students.
- learn aurally
- Young children often learn aurally before they can read.
- process information aurally
- Some people process information aurally better than visually.
Synonyms and how they differ
- acoustically
- Relates to sound and its physical properties, not specifically to the sense of hearing; 'aurally' focuses on the listener's perception.
- orally
- Relates to the mouth or speaking, not to hearing; a common confusion because the words sound similar.
Opposites
Word family
- aural adjective
- Relating to the sense of hearing.
Commonly confused: aurally or orally?
aurally vs orally
Orally means by speaking or by mouth, while aurally means by hearing. For example, 'The exam was conducted orally' means students spoke their answers; 'The exam was conducted aurally' would mean they listened to it.
Practice
Choose the correct word: 'The instructions were given ______, so the students had to listen carefully.'
Choose one answer.
Aurally means through hearing, which fits the context of listening. Orally means through speaking, which would mean the students spoke, not listened.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aurally”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.