<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001233402-06-000282
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20061002
<FILING-DATE>20061003
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20061003
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC
<CIK>0000732712
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4813
<IRS-NUMBER>232259884
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>140 WEST STREET
<STREET2>29TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10007
<PHONE>212-395-1000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>140 WEST STREET
<STREET2>29TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10007
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>BELL ATLANTIC CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SEIDENBERG IVAN G
<CIK>0001187727
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08606
<FILM-NUMBER>061125134
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>(212) 395-1000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC
<STREET2>140 WEST STREET, 29TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10007
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-10-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732712</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187727</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SEIDENBERG IVAN G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>140 WEST STREET, 29TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10007</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-10-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>285464</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>527048</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-10-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3232</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.12</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>523816</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-10-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>282232</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.22</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>241584</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option Non-Qualified</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.92</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-10-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>285464</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1997-01-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-01-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>285464</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sale of shares set forth herein is made in connection with Mr. Seidenberg's sales plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1(c).  In addition, the following securities are also held indirectly:  as of 12/31/2005:  37,519 in Savings Plan; 185,038 in 2004 PSUs; and 326,003 in 2005 PSUs; and as reported on Form 4 dated 03/03/2006:  389,120 in 2006 PSUs; and as reported on Form 4 dated 09/22/2006:  441,015 in Deferred Compensation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Phillip M. Huston, Jr., Attorney-in-fact for Seidenberg, Ivan G.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-10-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
