<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001233402-06-000332
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20061121
<FILING-DATE>20061122
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20061122
<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>DIERCKSEN JOHN W
<CIK>0001244131
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08606
<FILM-NUMBER>061235632
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1095 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10036
<PHONE>(212) 395-1000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>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>2006-11-21</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001244131</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DIERCKSEN JOHN W</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. VP - Strat, Dev and Plng</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13732</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.88</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43366</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13732</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29634</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>29.88</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13732</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.88</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-01-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-01-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13732</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. Diercksen's sales plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1(c).  In connection with the spin-off of Verizon's domestic directories business on November 17, 2006, options held by current and former Verizon employees, including this option, which was originally granted to the reporting person for 13,268 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $30.92, were adjusted pursuant to antidilution provisions of Verizon's Long-Term Incentive Plan.  In addition, the following securities are also held indirectly:  as of 12/31/2005:  17,626 in 2004 PSUs; 10,794 in 2004 RSUs; 37,951 in 2005 PSUs; and 25,304 in 2005 RSUs; and as reported on Form 4 dated 02/01/2006:  41,800 in 2006 PSUs; and 37,870 in 2006 RSUs; and as reported on Form 4 dated 11/17/2006:  12,206 in Deferred Compensation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Phillip M. Huston, Jr., Attorney-in-fact for Diercksen, John W.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
