tangible

adjective

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tan·gi·ble | \ ˈtan-jə-bəl

Definition of tangible

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : capable of being perceived especially by the sense of touch : palpable

b : substantially real : material

2 : capable of being precisely identified or realized by the mind her grief was tangible

3 : capable of being appraised at an actual or approximate value tangible assets

tangible

noun

tan·gi·ble | \ ˈtan-jə-bəl

Definition of tangible (Entry 2 of 2)

: something that is tangible (see tangible entry 1) especially : an asset capable of being appraised at an actual or approximate value

Other Words from tangible Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did you know? More Example Sentences Learn More About tangible

Other Words from tangible

Adjective

tangibility \ ˌtan-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

tangibleness \ ˈtan-jə-bəl-nəs

\ noun

tangibly \ ˈtan-jə-blē

\ adverb

Synonyms & Antonyms for tangible

Synonyms: Adjective

Antonyms: Adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for tangible

Adjective

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

Did you know?

Something that's literally tangible can be touched. A rock is tangible, and so is a broken window; if the rock is lying next to the window, it could be tangible evidence of vandalism. When we say that the tension in a room is tangible, we mean we feel it so strongly that it seems almost physical. But if we're being literal, tension, like hope, happiness, and hunger, is literally intangible—it may be real, but it can't be touched. When lawyers talk about an intangible asset, they might mean something like a company's good reputation—very valuable, but not quite touchable.

Examples of tangible in a Sentence

Adjective These days, an environmentally conscious motorist can walk into a Toyota or Honda dealer and snap up an efficient gasoline-electric hybrid, but the omega point of green driving—the pollution-free hydrogen fuel cell vehicle—is so elusive that one wonders if it will ever become tangible. — Brad Lemley, Discover, October 2002 Piniella has no interest in casino gambling, but the horses and the stock market have fascinated him because, he discovered, the payoff is in the satisfaction of doping out the winner as much as it is in the tangible reward. — Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, 19 Mar. 2001 This barbed wire, this flattened earth opposite Louie's bestrewn yard, served as a tangible reminder that I was an outsider looking in … — Julie Matheson, Geographical Review, January-April 2001 Traveling alone does have tangible drawbacks: One of the biggest is cost. Taking a trip alone is normally more expensive for one than for half of a pair. — Betsy Wade, New York Times, 20 July 1997 There is no tangible evidence to support her claim. Their sense of relief was almost tangible. Noun In this agora, the price of what you buy and sell need bear no implacable relationship to any tangibles. — Jodie Allen, New Republic, 5 June 2000 The nightly highlight packages confront old-timers with videotaped evidence that they didn't have the same tangibles as today's NBA players. — Alexander Wolff, Sports Illustrated Classic, Fall 1991 They were betting that inflation would drive prices much higher. The smart speculator could then sell the commodities or other tangibles, repay the loans, and reap a quick profit. — William Greider, New Yorker, 9 Nov. 1987 See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Drawing attention to the tangible results of Biden administration's legislative successes, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, could also be a boon for vulnerable Democrats up for reelection, like Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. — Byrick Klein,averi Harper, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2022 In addition, countries also need to focus on tangible results. — Mengqi Sun, WSJ, 19 Apr. 2022 Multiple rounds of peace talks have so far produced no tangible results. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2022 In many cases, however, organizations today are inwardly focused on process improvements rather than the delivery of tangible results to customers. — Jeb Dasteel, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 As the tight race has gathered steam in recent weeks, Modi has mostly pitched the BJP as the party that’s delivered tangible results to Uttar Pradesh: new highways, new loans for entrepreneurs, new colleges for aspiring doctors. — Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2022 From thereon, the anthropologist found himself in a state of enchantment – a feeling that has never left him and which continues to drive him to explore Pakistan’s tangible and intangible heritage. — Sonya Rehman, Forbes, 30 Apr. 2022 Aduddell: People think about buildings and some of the tangible outcomes of the strategic planning, but, for me, the No. 1 item of our strategic plan is our most important resource, which is our people. — Jeannie Roberts, Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2022 First-year head coach Pat Noonan now has a tangible, proof-of-concept result to show to his players. — Pat Brennan, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Tokenization of any asset tends to inherit a large amount of benefits such as making the respective asset tangible, and the same goes for data. — Philipp Sandner, Forbes, 6 July 2021 For Americans living in cities like New York, the reality of the pandemic has been obvious since March, when round-the-clock sirens and nightly cheers for healthcare workers made the virus’s impact tangible even for those who escaped infection. — Katie Palmer, Quartz, 11 Dec. 2020 After battling plantar fasciitis in 2019, a 14-hit, two-homer postseason gave him more tangibles to bring into free agency. — Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2019 Managing a bullpen effectively is equal parts tangibles and gut. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 4 June 2019 In terms of tangibles, the guy who departed hitting .241 in 83 at-bats figures to have minimal impact on a feast-or-famine offense that struggles to manufacture runs. — David Haugh, chicagotribune.com, 30 July 2019 Far more important is the subjective feel of a tire, as well as other tangibles like noise, road harshness and, of course, price. — Mike Allen, Popular Mechanics, 16 July 2010 Wagner brings plenty of tangibles to the table for NBA teams to consider. — Tim Hackett, SI.com, 12 June 2018 Despite these aforementioned tangibles being in place, Roberto Baggio still missed his spot kick. — SI.com, 13 May 2018 See More

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

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Last Updated

22 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Tangible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tangible. Accessed 23 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for tangible

tangible

adjective

tan·gi·ble | \ ˈtan-jə-bəl

Kids Definition of tangible

1 : possible to touch or handle : material Sometimes he pursued the call into the forest, looking for it as though it were a tangible thing …— Jack London, The Call of the Wild

2 : easily seen or recognized tangible benefits