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

Derived Forms

• ˌaudiˈbility, noun
• ˈaudibly, adverb

Other Words From

• au·di·bil·i·ty [aw-d, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], au·di·ble·ness noun
• au·di·bly adverb
• non·au·di·bil·i·ty noun
• non·au·di·ble adjective
• non·au·di·ble·ness noun
• non·au·di·bly adverb
• qua·si-au·di·ble adjective
• qua·si-au·di·bly adverb
• sub·au·di·bil·i·ty noun
• sub·au·di·ble adjective
• sub·au·di·ble·ness noun
• sub·au·di·bly 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

It’s a marked shift from a previous era in which her chains were always audible in interviews—in which she ate spiders and talked about her penchant for sucking on dirty jewelry.

From Time

This will tell you the messenger’s identity through audible alerts rather than discreet buzzes.

From Popular-Science

You can also up your listening experience to the next level with the audible reality feature, which gives you the option to personalize your listening experience with 3D audio.

From Popular-Science

In other cases, the collars would skip the audible warnings and move straight to applying shocks.

From Outside Online

Three weeks after the shooting, the Franklin family’s attorney, Padden, held a news conference calling attention to the video and to the racial epithets he said were audible on it.

From Time

Less than a minute into her big break, Slate let slip a highly audible F-bomb instead of the scripted “freaking.”

From The Daily Beast

After her first audible prompt, which came shortly after the interval, the audience sat patiently.

From The Daily Beast

As fully displayed as primetime would allow, Bieber was expecting audible adoration.

From The Daily Beast

The device issues an audible beep when any of these events occur.

From The Daily Beast

But I have no apologies for the audible squeals I unknowingly squeak out whenever I see her on screen.

From The Daily Beast

There was a very audible titter in the corner where three thoughtless young girls had squeezed themselves into one rocking-chair.

From Project Gutenberg

A muffled sound of voices became audible, and Irvin, following a moment of hesitation, crossed and opened the door.

From Project Gutenberg

Voices were audible behind them, and Miss de Lorne was coming up the sandy drive with Mrs. Haughstone.

From Project Gutenberg

Two persons were visible in her very physical appearance, as two persons had just been audible in her words.

From Project Gutenberg

They had been sitting silent for some minutes when a voice became audible, singing in the distance.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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