palpable

play

adjective pal·pa·ble \ˈpal-pə-bəl\

Definition of palpable

1 : capable of being touched or felt : tangible palpable lymph nodes
2 : easily perceptible : noticeable a palpable difference The attraction between them was palpable.
3 : easily perceptible by the mind : manifest

palpability

play \ˌpal-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

palpably

play \ˈpal-pə-blē\ adverb

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Examples of palpable in a Sentence

A positive patch-test result, measured by a visible and palpable localized response, denotes a delayed hypersensitivity response … —Simon Kallal et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 7 Feb. 2008
When I'm back in nature after months of walking around on concrete and living in boxes, I feel a palpable internal shift. —Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
As pushcart vendors manned the stadium concourses, ringing bicycle bells and selling E-lados ice cream in paper cups, and concessionaires poured shots of Cutty Sark and blended piña coladas, there was a palpable sense of spirit. —Daniel G. Habib, Sports Illustrated, 21 Apr. 2003
I felt a palpable sense of relief.
The attraction between them was palpable.
There was a palpable excitement in the air as the town prepared for the festival.

Recent Examples of palpable from the Web

Now the wariness about Mr. Trump’s immigration policies is palpable, the impact visible.

— kirk semple, New York Times, "Central Americans, ‘Scared of What’s Happening’ in U.S., Stay Put", 3 July 2017
The Mariners sliced into the lead in the second as Kennedy faced palpable danger.

— rustin dodd, kansascity.com, "Ian Kennedy delivers for Royals in 3-1 victory over the Mariners", 3 July 2017
The hope was palpable, and ballooned further after Devin Mann hit a two-out single through the left side.

— danielle lerner, The Courier-Journal, "In season-ending loss, UofL baseball defined by coexistence of success and disappointment", 23 June 2017
And the sparks in this video, which are palpable, are already leading some fans to ask in Instagram comments if the two are an IRL couple.

— ella ceron, Teen Vogue, "Shawn Mendes Debuts "There's Nothing Holding Me Back" Music Video", 21 June 2017
The energy at the young restaurant is palpable — and audible.

— carlos frías, miamiherald, "This new Miami restaurant is literally fire", 21 June 2017
Marks has thoroughly researched this new therapy, but her anxiety is palpable.

— rene chun, Los Angeles Magazine, "Inside the Los Angeles Clinic That Uses Ketamine to Treat Depression", 19 June 2017
Anger in May’s ranks is palpable, with some prominent members uncomfortable with the plan to form a parliamentary alliance with the pro-Brexit DUP.

— robert hutton, Bloomberg.com, "May Gains Northern Irish Support as Trouble Brews in London", 10 June 2017
But less than 24 hours after the attack, there was also a palpable sense of defiance in the London Bridge area and beyond.

— karla adam, Washington Post, "‘London Bridge will never fall down’", 4 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'palpable'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Feel Out the Definition of palpable

The word palpable has been used in English since the 14th century. It derives from the Latin word palpare, meaning "to stroke" or "to caress"—the same root that gives us the word palpitation. The Latin verb is also a linguistic ancestor of the verb feel. Palpable can be used to describe things that can be felt through the skin, such as a person's pulse, but even more frequently it is used in reference to things that cannot be touched but are still so easy to perceive that it is as though they could be touched—such as "a palpable tension in the air."

Origin and Etymology of palpable

Middle English, from Late Latin palpabilis, from Latin palpare to stroke, caress — more at feel

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of palpable

perceptible, sensible, palpable, tangible, appreciable, ponderable mean apprehensible as real or existent. perceptible applies to what can be discerned by the senses often to a minimal extent. a perceptible difference in sound to a careful listener sensible applies to whatever is clearly apprehended through the senses or impresses itself strongly on the mind. an abrupt, sensible drop in temperature palpable applies either to what has physical substance or to what is obvious and unmistakable. the tension in the air was almost palpable tangible suggests what is capable of being handled or grasped both physically and mentally. no tangible evidence of UFOs appreciable applies to what is distinctly discernible by the senses or definitely measurable. an appreciable increase in income ponderable suggests having definitely measurable weight or importance. exerted a ponderable influence on world events

PALPABLE Defined for English Language Learners

palpable

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adjective

Definition of palpable for English Language Learners

: obvious and noticeable

Medical Dictionary

palpable

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adjective pal·pa·ble \ˈpal-pə-bəl\

Medical Definition of palpable

: capable of being touched or felt; especially : capable of being examined by palpation the tip of the spleen was questionably palpable—Journal of the American Medical Association