palpable
Americanadjective
-
(usually prenominal) easily perceived by the senses or the mind; obvious
the excuse was a palpable lie
-
capable of being touched; tangible
-
med capable of being discerned by the sense of touch
a palpable tumour
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of palpable
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin palpābilis “touchable,” from palpā(re) “to stroke, touch” ( see palpate 1) + -bilis -ble
Explanation
When something is palpable, you can touch or handle it, even though the word is often used to describe things that usually can't be handled or touched, such as emotions or sensations. You probably won't see palpable used to describe, say, an egg or a doorknob or a motorcycle. Palpable is usually reserved for situations in which something invisible becomes so intense that it feels as though it has substance or weight. Someone who has experienced a death in the family might say that her grief feels palpable.
Vocabulary lists containing palpable
The Giver
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Power Suffix: -able
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Grade 10, List 1
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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.
In the Bayfront Park fan zone afterwards, the Scotland supporters swapped shirts with their Brazilian rivals but the sense of disappointment was palpable.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
“That’s a very real, palpable feeling when you go out and talk to people. They’re worried.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2026
“We’ve said it was probably one of the best meals we’ve had in terms of just the variety,” Bell said, explaining, with palpable disappointment, that there are no Cheesecake Factory franchises back home.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
"It's really hard to capture in a way that feels palpable to others."
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
As we were seconds away from taking the leap, the multitude of prayers that left the plane were palpable.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
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.
