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
• audibly adverb
• audibleness noun
• 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

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

Climate change, he claimed to audible gasps, was "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world" and was lumbering European countries with expensive energy costs compared to fossil fuels.

Read more on BBC

As in the prime "Fergie Time" days, there is now an audible groan from opposing fans when the board goes up for added time when Liverpool are seeking a winner.

Read more on BBC

Officers repeatedly yelled for Flores to drop the weapon, but a response is not audible on any of the released videos.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I don’t recall which gossip rag was handling the story, but the audible snort from the black woman in line behind me was unforgettable.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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