tangible

1 of 2

adjective

tan·​gi·​ble ˈtan-jə-bəl How to pronounce tangible (audio)
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 noun
tangibleness noun
tangibly adverb

tangible

2 of 2

noun

tan·​gi·​ble ˈtan-jə-bəl How to pronounce tangible (audio)
: 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.

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
And there were tangible reminders of that legacy, as well as of the global tumult that gave Nolan’s historical drama about the creation of the nuclear bomb its jolt of immediacy. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 10 Mar. 2024 Provide value for the readers At its core, your guest post needs to provide tangible value to readers. Jon Stojan, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Financial assets in general have historically fared badly during inflation booms, while tangible assets like houses have held their value better. Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Even beyond the tangible recovery, Miller is concerned for farmers' and ranchers' mental health. Li Cohen, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2024 Astronomers are, however, making tangible progress towards observing truly Earth-like planets. Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024 While books are wonderful resources, the tangible nature of the cards (with all kinds of chores, jobs, caretaking and fun) is an excellent way to communicate your values, as well as what’s realistic for your family. Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 As tangible evidence of the widening economic calamities in San Francisco, while the San Francisco-San Mateo metro region got off to a strong start in job creation over the first six months of 2023, the final half of last year told a more ominous tale. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Through the iterative cycle of ideation, creation, and presentation, hackathons provide a microcosm of the project lifecycle, offering a practical education that empowers individuals to transform ideas into tangible outcomes. Sandy Carter, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
Job Search Variables Variables include tangibles like job levels applied for, number of jobs available in the field, salaries sought, and so on; intangibles include intensity of the search, quality of the candidate’s résumé, number of candidates, etc. Eli Amdur, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Your survey should be grounded in the SERVQUAL model by Parasuraman et al., focusing on its five dimensions: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. Jodie Cook, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 The label describes how it was manufactured, but, more to the point, the thing tells us that a family’s fortune was normally in tangibles such as hard money, land, silver and gold, buildings, and farm animals. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 18 Jan. 2024 But these A-list customers aren’t just attracted to J Craft’s tangibles. Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2023 There are real tangibles that always come out of everybody’s experience that decides to invest in attending. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 10 Oct. 2023 Leads them in many tangibles (96 hits, 157 total bases) and also intangibles, setting the tone as a leadoff hitter and with his work ethic. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 29 June 2023 Like Ludwig von Mises and so many other free thinkers, Tolstoy was pointing out that during times of uncertainty, there’s a flight to tangibles. John Tamny, Forbes, 3 May 2023 Every surviving team has the tangibles of talent. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tangible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tangible was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near tangible

Cite this Entry

“Tangible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tangible. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tangible

1 of 2 adjective
tan·​gi·​ble ˈtan-jə-bəl How to pronounce tangible (audio)
1
: capable of being touched
2
: capable of being understood and appreciated
tangibility noun
tangibly 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 How to pronounce tangible (audio)
: capable of being perceived especially by the sense of touch

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