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

• 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

Etymology

Origin of audible

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

Example Sentences

Crowds pressed around an ice rink blasting Christmas classics, barely audible over the joyous screams of children swaying on a pendulum ride nearby.

From Barron's

A man’s voice cut through the rain pelting the pitch-black Caribbean Sea, just audible between two boats tossed around by 10-foot waves.

From The Wall Street Journal

Alternative theories are fuelled by the absence of reports of gunshots being heard at the time of the murders - 19:00 GMT - despite experts saying they should have been audible about a mile away,

From BBC

It was meant to re-energize the faith for mission, with every Catholic a missionary and with ancient, enduring truths being proclaimed in a language audible to contemporary ears.

From The Wall Street Journal

The sound of chattering keyboards is now audible at major banks as the scenario for February is being road tested.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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