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

Derived Forms

• ˈtangibly, adverb
• ˌtangiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• tangi·bili·ty tangi·ble·ness noun
• tangi·bly adverb
• non·tangi·ble adjective
• non·tangi·ble·ness noun
• non·tangi·bly adverb
• pre·tangi·ble adjective
• pre·tangi·bly adverb
• quasi-tangi·ble adjective
• quasi-tangi·bly adverb
• un·tangi·ble 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 above outlines just a few examples of the challenges facing Google as a business, which will likely have a tangible impact on search.

From Search Engine Watch

That subject, like the conflict of Choice’s street scenes, is tangible and immediate.

From Washington Post

By taking advantage of semantic search opportunities, a retailer offers a potential customer more tangible, relevant information on a product of interest, and the retailer has a clear path to an already interested buyer for a specific product.

From Search Engine Watch

So watching Bidenworld move in his first full week in office was like trying to make sense of smoke — always moving, never tangible and ever open to interpretation.

From Time

He cautioned though that it will take months for the vaccine program to have a tangible impact on the disease.

From Fortune

When it comes to tangible gifts, the sharing economy really starts to flex its holiday disrupting muscle.

From The Daily Beast

A wine list and a short bar menu sitting on each table seemed tangible enough.

From The Daily Beast

In the world of Google, where all information feels tangible, people think they deserve to know everything.

From The Daily Beast

Relationships that have blossomed via social media and the Internet can feel just as real as any tangible one.

From The Daily Beast

For Panetta, the act of using force is seemingly more important than the actual tangible result achieved by using force.

From The Daily Beast

Fascination is despotic; beauty is something more tangible and independent of opinion.

From Project Gutenberg

He had been something real and tangible in that shadowy place—something familiar in an unfamiliar world.

From Project Gutenberg

His figure filled the dark and empty places in the illusion, and made it warm, tangible and complete.

From Project Gutenberg

Philosophy went out of fashion, since it brought no outward and tangible good.

From Project Gutenberg

From the standpoint of tangible requirements, three rooms on a silent upper floor was their idea of a perfect lodging.

From Project Gutenberg