orally

Everyday

1. By speaking, not in writing, as in "answer orally". tree →
2. (medicine) By mouth, as in "take this medicine orally". tree →

In the lessons

Used at school (oral tests, reading aloud, "present your project orally"), in history (stories passed down orally before writing, called oral tradition) and in health (medicine taken orally, by mouth, rather than by injection).

Examples

• Please answer the questions orally, not in writing. tree →
• The old stories were passed down orally for hundreds of years. tree →
• Take two tablets orally with water. tree →
• We presented our science project orally to the class. tree →
• In the French test, part is done orally. tree →
• The vaccine can be given orally as drops. tree →
• Some of the Indian tales reached Europe at the time of the Crusades, either orally or in collections no longer extant. tree →

Note

From "oral" (to do with the mouth or speaking) + "-ly". Homophone trap: "aurally" (by hearing, to do with the ear) sounds the same. Medicine safety: only take medicine an adult gives you.