sensible
Americanadjective
-
having, using, or showing good sense or sound judgment.
a sensible young woman.
- Synonyms:
- reasonable, rational, sagacious, intelligent
- Antonyms:
- stupid
-
cognizant; keenly aware (usually followed byof ).
sensible of his fault.
- Synonyms:
- observant, understanding, conscious
-
significant in quantity, magnitude, etc.; considerable; appreciable.
a sensible reduction in price.
-
capable of being perceived by the senses; material.
the sensible universe.
- Synonyms:
- palpable, discernible, perceptible
-
capable of feeling or perceiving, as organs or parts of the body.
-
perceptible to the mind.
-
conscious.
The patient was speechless but still sensible.
-
Archaic. sensitive.
adjective
-
having or showing good sense or judgment
a sensible decision
-
(of clothing) serviceable; practical
sensible shoes
-
having the capacity for sensation; sensitive
-
capable of being apprehended by the senses
-
perceptible to the mind
-
(sometimes foll by of) having perception; aware
sensible of your kindness
-
readily perceived; considerable
a sensible difference
noun
Related Words
See practical.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sensible
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin sēnsibilis; equivalent to sense + -ible
Explanation
Sensible means practical and reasonable. If you're wearing sensible shoes, they're sturdy, comfortable, good for walking, and your feet don't hurt. If you're a sensible person, you're level-headed and calm, and you make wise decisions. Sensible may not sound exciting — who wants to be like a pair of galoshes, when you can be stilettos? But sensible is the voice of reason, and when you're tooling along in your convertible, you'll be grateful for the sensible 15-mile-per-hour speed limit posted at that sharp turn where the road drops off into the canyon. Sensible comes from the Latin sensibilis, meaning "perceptible by the senses," a meaning that eventually evolved into "having good sense, reasonable."
Vocabulary lists containing sensible
Positive Adjectives to Describe People
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Common Senses: Sent, Sens ("Feel")
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"The Witches" by Roald Dahl, Chapters 1–5
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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.
The original “Jackass” crew are now in their 50s, long past the point when being shot out of cannons and zapped with tasers seems like a sensible career plan.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
This persuades Denyer that investing in U.S. grid plays, natural gas companies, as well as solar and wind, is a sensible strategy right now.
From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026
A compute tax is a sensible policy lever to consider in order to slow down automation, says Simon Johnson, a Nobel laureate and professor of entrepreneurship at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Mass layoffs, while painful for employees, have previously been greeted by investors as sensible cuts to a bloated workforce.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
“John is so sensible, I’m afraid he will think I’m stupid if I ask questions about politics and things.”
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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.
