tangible

[tan-juh-buhl]

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.

noun

1. something tangible, especially a tangible asset.

tangible

/ 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

noun

1. (often plural) a tangible thing or asset

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tangible¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tangible¹

C16: from Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tangere to touch

Example Sentences

The character’s loss is so tangible you can feel it through the screen as if she’s voicing the most primal version of grief possible.

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But music offered something less tangible, more attuned to what the world feels like.

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“I think someone who has rolled their sleeves up and dug in and had actual, tangible outcomes for families is a feature,” Borges.

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This gives researchers something tangible to confirm a particular panda's whereabouts and movements.

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“What’s required now is the hard work of building broad durable capabilities together, so that this technology can deliver real tangible local success.”

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