<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001233402-06-000349
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20061211
<FILING-DATE>20061212
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20061212
<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>Webster Catherine T
<CIK>0001343485
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08606
<FILM-NUMBER>061270790
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<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>2006-12-11</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001343485</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Webster Catherine T</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>Senior VP and Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>886</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.74</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7847</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>886</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6961</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 ISO</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.74</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>886</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.74</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-01-27</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-01-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>886</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 Ms. Webster'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, stock-based awards held by current and former Verizon employees, including this option, which was originally granted to the reporting person for 856 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $32.85, 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:  10,067 in Savings Plan; 8,041 in 2004 PSUs; 3,238 in 2004 RSUs; 16,047 in 2005 PSUs; and 10,698 in 2005 RSUs; as reported on Form 4 dated 02/01/2006:  18,240 in 2006 PSUs; and 12,160 in 2006 RSUs; and as reported on Form 4 dated 12/01/2006:  2,984 in Deferred Compensation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Phillip M. Huston, Jr., Attorney-in-fact for Webster, Catherine T.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-12-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
