tangible
Americanadjective
-
capable of being touched; discernible by the touch; material or substantial.
-
real or actual, rather than imaginary or visionary.
the tangible benefits of sunshine.
- Synonyms:
- perceptible, genuine, certain
-
definite; not vague or elusive.
no tangible grounds for suspicion.
- Synonyms:
- specific
-
(of an asset) having actual physical existence, as real estate or chattels, and therefore capable of being assigned a value in monetary terms.
noun
adjective
-
capable of being touched or felt; having real substance
a tangible object
-
capable of being clearly grasped by the mind; substantial rather than imaginary
tangible evidence
-
having a physical existence; corporeal
tangible assets
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of tangible
First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tang(ere) “to touch” + -ibilis -ible; cf. tangent ( def. )
Explanation
When you can touch something, it's tangible: "I need tangible proof that aliens exist — I want to shake their little green hands!" Tangible is from Latin tangere, "to touch," and it simply means something that can be touched or felt, though it can be used in metaphorical senses: tangible assets have a value that can be precisely measured, and tangible grief can be clearly sensed by an onlooker. So you might not need to physically touch something for it to be tangible, but it has to be grounded in the real world of facts.
Vocabulary lists containing tangible
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
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The Real Deal: Synonyms for "True"
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List 7
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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.
The operation is having tangible effects on Crimea.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
“You can have Latino representation, but whether or not that will actually lead to tangible outcomes for Latino communities, that’s what people want to know.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026
Those restrictions include limiting the amount of additional debt private-equity firms can place on the underlying company and their ability to sell or borrow against its equipment or other tangible assets.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
He watched as posters' imagination developed the image into a "vaguely nostalgic and vaguely dreamlike but also very tangible science-fiction concept".
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
His tangible presence seemed to belie all the vague thoughts and hopes that Bigger had woven round him in his broodings.
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
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.
