tangible
Americanadjective
-
capable of being touched; discernible by the touch; material or substantial.
-
real or actual, rather than imaginary or visionary.
the tangible benefits of sunshine.
- Synonyms:
- perceptible, genuine, certain
-
definite; not vague or elusive.
no tangible grounds for suspicion.
- Synonyms:
- specific
-
(of an asset) having actual physical existence, as real estate or chattels, and therefore capable of being assigned a value in monetary terms.
noun
adjective
-
capable of being touched or felt; having real substance
a tangible object
-
capable of being clearly grasped by the mind; substantial rather than imaginary
tangible evidence
-
having a physical existence; corporeal
tangible assets
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing tangible
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
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The Real Deal: Synonyms for "True"
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List 7
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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.
And though the television landscape has been in a state of flux since the 2023 strikes ended, Emmy success can still bring tangible benefits.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026
When she spoke about the necklace her husband had given her in Shetland, her hurt was tangible in the room.
From BBC • May 31, 2026
“What translates into a tangible expression of their concerns is whether they reallocated budgets,” Winkler said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
He watched as posters' imagination developed the image into a "vaguely nostalgic and vaguely dreamlike but also very tangible science-fiction concept".
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
The air was a tangible thing, rushing into Hazel’s lungs as she breathed, touching her skin like a curious ghost.
From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu
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.
