audible

American  

[aw-duh-buhl] / ˈɔ də bəl /

adjective

1. loud enough to be heard; able to be heard.

   The pun brought an audible groan from his colleague.

   When I’m working in the basement, the sound of the traffic is barely audible.

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noun

1. Also called automatic, checkoff.  Football. a play called aloud by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage to supersede the play originally agreed upon as a result of a change in strategy.

   The quarterback called an audible that sent the running back past the other offensive guard.

   Cheering by the fans made it hard for either team to hear any audibles.

idioms

1. call an audible, to make a last-minute change of plan in response to circumstances, new information, etc..

   Instead of the first song on their set list, the band called an audible and played one that was known to be especially popular on campus.

audible British  

/ ˈɔːdɪbəl /

adjective

1. perceptible to the hearing; loud enough to be heard

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noun

1. American football a change of playing tactics called by the quarterback when the offense is lined up at the line of scrimmage

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• audibleness
  noun
• subaudible
  adjective
• subaudibleness
  noun
• audibly
  adverb
• subaudibility
  noun
• audibility
  noun
• quasi-audible
  adjective
• nonaudibleness
  noun
• nonaudibly
  adverb
• quasi-audibly
  adverb
• nonaudibility
  noun
• subaudibly
  adverb
• nonaudible
  adjective

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?

Example Sentences

Though piano, synthesizer and what seems to be a reed instrument are audible, it comes across as something created spontaneously with toys and noise-making devices discovered in a room.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Faint chants of “Libertad” were audible from inside the facility.

From Slate • May 29, 2026

“Land of Hope and Dreams,” where the horns soar into the stratosphere and the entire gigantic, expansive 2026 arrangement is what happiness would sound like if it were audible.

From Salon • May 28, 2026

These estimates — which one attendee described as “cute” — prompted audible scoffs in the room.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

Finally, they left me alone to go use the restroom before class, and I heaved an audible sigh of relief.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• deafening
• detectable
• discernible
• distinct
• loud
• perceptible
• resounding
• sounding