tangible

1 of 2

adjective

tan·​gi·​ble ˈtan-jə-bəl 

1

a

: capable of being perceived especially by the sense of touch : palpable

b

: substantially real : material

2

: capable of being precisely identified or realized by the mind

her grief was tangible

3

: capable of being appraised at an actual or approximate value

tangible assets

tangibility

ˌtan-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

tangibleness

ˈtan-jə-bəl-nəs 

noun

tangibly

ˈtan-jə-blē 

adverb

tangible

2 of 2

noun

: something that is tangible (see tangible entry 1)

especially : an asset capable of being appraised at an actual or approximate value

Did you know?

Something that's literally tangible can be touched. A rock is tangible, and so is a broken window; if the rock is lying next to the window, it could be tangible evidence of vandalism. When we say that the tension in a room is tangible, we mean we feel it so strongly that it seems almost physical. But if we're being literal, tension, like hope, happiness, and hunger, is literally intangible—it may be real, but it can't be touched. When lawyers talk about an intangible asset, they might mean something like a company's good reputation—very valuable, but not quite touchable.

Synonyms

Adjective

• palpable
• touchable

Choose the Right Synonym for tangible

perceptible, sensible, palpable, tangible, appreciable, ponderable mean apprehensible as real or existent.

perceptible applies to what can be discerned by the senses often to a minimal extent.

a perceptible difference in sound to a careful listener

sensible applies to whatever is clearly apprehended through the senses or impresses itself strongly on the mind.

an abrupt, sensible drop in temperature

palpable applies either to what has physical substance or to what is obvious and unmistakable.

the tension in the air was almost palpable

tangible suggests what is capable of being handled or grasped both physically and mentally.

no tangible evidence of UFOs

appreciable applies to what is distinctly discernible by the senses or definitely measurable.

an appreciable increase in income

ponderable suggests having definitely measurable weight or importance.

exerted a ponderable influence on world events

Examples of tangible in a Sentence

Adjective

These days, an environmentally conscious motorist can walk into a Toyota or Honda dealer and snap up an efficient gasoline-electric hybrid, but the omega point of green driving—the pollution-free hydrogen fuel cell vehicle—is so elusive that one wonders if it will ever become tangible. —Brad Lemley, Discover, October 2002

Piniella has no interest in casino gambling, but the horses and the stock market have fascinated him because, he discovered, the payoff is in the satisfaction of doping out the winner as much as it is in the tangible reward. —Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 19 Mar. 2001

This barbed wire, this flattened earth opposite Louie's bestrewn yard, served as a tangible reminder that I was an outsider looking in … —Julie Matheson, Geographical Review, January-April 2001

Traveling alone does have tangible drawbacks: One of the biggest is cost. Taking a trip alone is normally more expensive for one than for half of a pair. —Betsy Wade, New York Times, 20 July 1997

There is no tangible evidence to support her claim.

Their sense of relief was almost tangible.

Noun

In this agora, the price of what you buy and sell need bear no implacable relationship to any tangibles. —Jodie Allen, New Republic, 5 June 2000

The nightly highlight packages confront old-timers with videotaped evidence that they didn't have the same tangibles as today's NBA players. —Alexander Wolff, Sports Illustrated Classic, Fall 1991

They were betting that inflation would drive prices much higher. The smart speculator could then sell the commodities or other tangibles, repay the loans, and reap a quick profit. —William Greider, New Yorker, 9 Nov. 1987

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Paxton, pious to the end, responds by talking about the Great Prayer Experiment, a (very real) series of studies that sought to test whether prayer has any tangible healing impact — and conclusively found there to be not. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024

Webster Financial Corporation's report discusses various financial metrics, including a return on average assets of 1.01% and a return on average tangible common stockholders' equity of 14.29%. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024

Noun

Careful attention to keeping the old-style look and feel has been made in all of these tangibles. —Aaron Turpen, New Atlas, 14 Sep. 2024

From 1997 to 2019, capital investment in tangibles like machines and buildings fell from 22 to 14% of gross value added in the United States and from 25 to 17% in Europe. —Chris Bradley, Fortune Europe, 22 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tangere to touch

First Known Use

Adjective

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1890, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tangible

1 of 2 adjective

tan·​gi·​ble ˈtan-jə-bəl 

1

: capable of being touched

2

: capable of being understood and appreciated

tangibility

ˌtan-jə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

tangibly

ˈtan-jə-blē 

adverb

tangible

2 of 2 noun

: something tangible

Etymology

Adjective

from Latin tangibilis "tangible," from tangere "to touch" — related to contact, tactile, tangent

Legal Definition

tangible

adjective

tan·​gi·​ble ˈtan-jə-bəl 

: capable of being perceived especially by the sense of touch