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

Derived Forms

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

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

News AUDIBLE: CHA-CHING “This was the most expensive speech in history.”

From Fox News • Mar. 13, 2020

AUDIBLE: OKAY, BRO “There is an element of feeling a little bit like a traveling troubadour.”

From Fox News • Oct. 1, 2019

White House appears to have altered hurricane map - WaPo US, China agree to new round of trade talks next month - Fox Business AUDIBLE: HEY-O!

From Fox News • Sep. 5, 2019

‘Alaska moose-hunter can ‘rev up’ his hovercraft, court rules’ - AP AUDIBLE: K BYE “Beautiful day in Alabama! No, not now. War Eagle!”

From Fox News • Mar. 27, 2019

Can a real thing, in itself INVISIBLE, be like a COLOUR; or a real thing, which is not AUDIBLE, be like a SOUND?

From Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous by Berkeley, George

Related Words

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