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

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?

Example Sentences

There was an audible buzz when a cluster of people were about to walk through, but then a sense of immediate deflation when it turned out merely to be John Thune or Chuck Schumer.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2026

Among NASA's team in Houston, there were "audible screams of delight" from scientists when the crew described flashes of light caused by meteorite impact, Young said.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

They believe carbon monoxide fumes were leaking into the cabin of the plane during Sala's flight, and the lack of an audible alarm meant Ibbotson was unable to take action to disperse the deadly gas.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

His hybrid mixes also include elements of sonideros, most audible in tracks like “Lo Que Esconde.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

She plays it again and again, each time adding a new variation that makes the tune more complex, until the original simple melody is barely audible beneath the trills and chords on top of it.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

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