audible
Americanadjective
noun
idioms
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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audibilitynoun
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audiblenessnoun
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nonaudibilitynoun
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nonaudiblenessnoun
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subaudibilitynoun
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subaudiblenessnoun
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nonaudibleadjective
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quasi-audibleadjective
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subaudibleadjective
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audiblyadverb
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nonaudiblyadverb
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quasi-audiblyadverb
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subaudiblyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of audible
First recorded in 1520–30; from Late Latin audībilis, from Latin audī(re) “to hear” + -bilis -ble
Explanation
Something audible can be heard. Sometimes things that people don't want others to hear become audible, such as a growling stomach during a quiet moment at the movies. Coming from the Latin audīre, "to hear," audible is an adjective meaning "heard" or "hearable." A scream is audible, a barking dog next door is audible, and a siren is audible. Why do some writers use the expression "a barely audible whisper?" Isn’t that what a whisper is — something you can barely hear?
Vocabulary lists containing audible
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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Hatchet
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Common Senses: Aud ("Hear")
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Mary McNamara: I confess that my most audible sob came with the tender nod to the late, great Rob Reiner, who made his last screen appearance in Season 4, as business mentor Albert Schur.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
As the legal battle ramped up, Sorsby called an audible with a new plan to drop his litigation and enter the NFL through the supplemental draft, which last saw a player taken in 2019.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
The Russian defence ministry said "signal flares were fired and audible signals were sounded" to get the attention of the yacht on Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
Faint chants of “Libertad” were audible from inside the facility.
From Slate ● May 29, 2026
Conversation at the nearby table had nearly ceased, and he knew that everything he said would be audible as far as the bar.
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
For such a simple fix, it could have lasting implications on the college game, from the pace of play to coaches’ approach to late audibles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2024
Just try and make sure Sam is comfortable with everything that we do, and have some specific checks or audibles or options for him to go to and use.”
From Washington Times ● Nov. 2, 2023
“Every day, teachers call audibles at the line of scrimmage, figuring out what materials and words will work,” Mr. Pondiscio said.
From New York Times ● Dec. 10, 2021
The playbook for operating training camp during a pandemic includes unexpected audibles.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 30, 2020
Visibles are swiftlier carried to the sense than audibles.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
