palpable
Americanadjective
-
(usually prenominal) easily perceived by the senses or the mind; obvious
the excuse was a palpable lie
-
capable of being touched; tangible
-
med capable of being discerned by the sense of touch
a palpable tumour
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of palpable
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin palpābilis “touchable,” from palpā(re) “to stroke, touch” ( see palpate 1) + -bilis -ble
Explanation
When something is palpable, you can touch or handle it, even though the word is often used to describe things that usually can't be handled or touched, such as emotions or sensations. You probably won't see palpable used to describe, say, an egg or a doorknob or a motorcycle. Palpable is usually reserved for situations in which something invisible becomes so intense that it feels as though it has substance or weight. Someone who has experienced a death in the family might say that her grief feels palpable.
Vocabulary lists containing palpable
The Giver
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Power Suffix: -able
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Grade 10, List 1
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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.
At the precipice of an odyssey that will challenge the half-lives they’ve lived so far, the sisters’ anger is palpable.
From Salon • May 19, 2026
The excitement about what’s next for memory stocks is palpable, but some investors question whether it’s sustainable.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
Being in that room and meeting some of the up-and-coming new designers, the creative energy was just palpable and super exciting to take in.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
Lord Richard Hermer, the attorney general and one of the most senior Jewish politicians in the country, tells the BBC: "The fear in my community is palpable, and understandable."
From BBC • May 2, 2026
Her eyes spill over with tears, her fear palpable.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
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.
