audible
Americanadjective
noun
idioms
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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audibilitynoun
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audiblenessnoun
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nonaudibilitynoun
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nonaudiblenessnoun
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subaudibilitynoun
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subaudiblenessnoun
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nonaudibleadjective
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quasi-audibleadjective
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subaudibleadjective
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audiblyadverb
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nonaudiblyadverb
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quasi-audiblyadverb
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subaudiblyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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?
Vocabulary lists containing audible
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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Hatchet
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Common Senses: Aud ("Hear")
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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.
See Examples For:
As the legal battle ramped up, Sorsby called an audible with a new plan to drop his litigation and enter the NFL through the supplemental draft, which last saw a player taken in 2019.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
The devices produce sounds audible only to porpoises and dolphins, which can deter them from approaching fishing nets.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
Faint chants of “Libertad” were audible from inside the facility.
From Slate ● May 29, 2026
The only time he has been seen since his arrest was an initial appearance via video, where he seemed confused and tired, his speech barely audible.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
The space at the top of the tube has been expanded to include a bell, on the theory that if there was a vacuum no sound would be audible.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Just try and make sure Sam is comfortable with everything that we do, and have some specific checks or audibles or options for him to go to and use.”
From Washington Times ● Nov. 2, 2023
Microphones in the shoulder pads of offensive linemen pick up audibles, like when quarterback Peyton Manning famously yelled “Omaha” repeatedly.
From New York Times ● Aug. 17, 2020
The playbook for operating training camp during a pandemic includes unexpected audibles.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 30, 2020
He asked defensive coordinator Dennis Allen if he could call the plays and audibles, because he knew the offense, and understood how Brady would think, better than Denver’s defensive coaches.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 1, 2019
Visibles are swiftlier carried to the sense than audibles.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah
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.
