tangible

American  

[tan-juh-buhl] / ˈtæn dʒə bəl /

adjective

1. 

   capable of being touched; discernible by the touch; material or substantial.

   Synonyms:

   corporeal, palpable

2. real or actual, rather than imaginary or visionary.

   the tangible benefits of sunshine.

   Synonyms:

   perceptible, genuine, certain

3. definite; not vague or elusive.

   no tangible grounds for suspicion.

   Synonyms:

   specific

4. (of an asset) having actual physical existence, as real estate or chattels, and therefore capable of being assigned a value in monetary terms.

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noun

1. something tangible, especially a tangible asset.

tangible British  

/ ˈtændʒəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being touched or felt; having real substance

   a tangible object

2. capable of being clearly grasped by the mind; substantial rather than imaginary

   tangible evidence

3. having a physical existence; corporeal

   tangible assets

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noun

1. (often plural) a tangible thing or asset

Other Word Forms

• nontangibleness
  noun
• tangibility
  noun
• tangibleness
  noun
• nontangible
  adjective
• pretangible
  adjective
• quasi-tangible
  adjective
• untangible
  adjective
• nontangibly
  adverb
• pretangibly
  adverb
• quasi-tangibly
  adverb
• tangibly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of tangible

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tang(ere) “to touch” + -ibilis -ible; cf. tangent ( def. )

Explanation

When you can touch something, it's tangible: "I need tangible proof that aliens exist — I want to shake their little green hands!" Tangible is from Latin tangere, "to touch," and it simply means something that can be touched or felt, though it can be used in metaphorical senses: tangible assets have a value that can be precisely measured, and tangible grief can be clearly sensed by an onlooker. So you might not need to physically touch something for it to be tangible, but it has to be grounded in the real world of facts.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tangible

However, "you'd have to see further tangible outcomes for this truce to extend in the long run."

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

Burnham appears determined to give his government enough time in office to present tangible achievements to a sceptical electorate.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

“The most immediate tangible result of a poll like this is that Bass’ greatest advantage was her fundraising and it now becomes much more challenging to raise money,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

Additionally, roughly 90% of CoreWeave’s capital outlays are financed through delayed draw term loans secured directly by Nvidia hardware assets, creating a tangible collateral base for lenders.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

The near-occult feeling: The fact of being witness to the end of the world gives way to tangible things.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou