audible

[aw-duh-buhl]

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.

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.

audible

/ ˈɔːdɪbəl /

adjective

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

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of audible¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Late Latin audībilis, from Latin audī(re) “to hear” + -bilis -ble

Word History and Origins

Origin of audible¹

C16: from Late Latin audibilis, from Latin audīre to hear

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

To audible gasps, Nick Mohammed later admitted at the round table that he and Joe Marler had colluded by sabotaging the final round of the chess game so that Nick's team lost.

Read more on BBC

More than seven minutes into No. 12 UCLA’s exhibition game against the Aztecs on Friday night, those fans were still clapping … with so little oomph that the gesture was barely audible.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"No reasonable consumer would purchase Defendant's shoes - or pay as much for them as they did - knowing each step creates an audible and noticeable squeak," the customers allege.

Read more on BBC

Only parts of the exchange were audible and the nature of the issue wasn’t clear.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She travels to Savannah’s Bonaventure graveyard, abutting the Wilmington River, “where shrimp boats float, a mostly silent river that is only audible when a breeze shakes the trees and you hear the water whisper.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deafening 
• detectable www.thesaurus.com
• discernible 
• distinct 
• loud 
• perceptible 
• resounding 
• sounding