tangible

adjective tan·gi·ble \ ˈtan-jə-bəl \

Updated on: 28 Feb 2018

1 a : 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

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tangibility

play \ˌtan-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

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tangibleness

play \ˈtan-jə-bəl-nəs\ noun

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tangibly

play \ˈtan-jə-blē\ adverb

See tangible defined for English-language learners

See tangible defined for kids

Examples of tangible in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of tangible from the Web

Despite the White House’s endeavors, however, Judge Watson found few tangible differences between the second and third drafts of the ban.

— isobel thompson, vanityfair.com, "Why Trump’s Third Travel Ban Got Struck Down Again," 18 Oct. 2017
American officials have not yet formally announced that the fight is won, but the developments mark a significant moment for the war on ISIS -- and perhaps, in real tangible, conventional military terms, its end.

— nick paton walsh, CNN, "The fall of Raqqa: What comes next for the devastated city -- and for ISIS," 17 Oct. 2017
The push for visibility without it being tied to a demand for our basic needs being met often leaves us without material resources or tangible support, and exposed to more violence and isolation.

— reina gossett, Teen Vogue, "Reina Gossett on Transgender Storytelling, David France, and the Netflix Marsha P. Johnson Documentary," 11 Oct. 2017
Overall, the fact that so many countries are continuing to keep antibiotic resistance as a national priority is promising, but whether substantial and tangible action is taken by leaders who have made commitments is still largely yet to be seen.

— alexandra sifferlin, Time, "It’s Been One Year Since the World Took On Superbugs. Here’s What’s Changed," 22 Sep. 2017
This was supposed to be the year Pearl's hire paid off in a tangible way.

— kevin scarbinsky, AL.com, "When does the bad news end for Auburn basketball?," 3 Nov. 2017
But there is a much more tangible and real threat to a lot of these societies because these [white nationalists] present themselves as natives defending the homeland.

— isaac chotiner, Slate Magazine, "Who Is to Blame for the Rise of the Far Right?," 17 Oct. 2017
Taking actions like the three laid out here provide systemic and tangible steps to do so.

— cynthia soledad, Fortune, "Why Are Women Still Set Up to Fail in the C-Suite?," 28 Sep. 2017
In Showtime’s The Return, the supernatural is present, tangible, and a clear and present danger.

— jim geraghty, National Review, "David Lynch and Mark Frost altered the deal with fans of the original series.," 15 Sep. 2017

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.

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.

Origin and Etymology of tangible

Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tangere to touch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1589

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

tangible Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of tangible

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

tangible

noun tan·gi·ble \ ˈtan-jə-bəl \

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

Examples of tangible in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of tangible from the Web

But there are tangibles for the rookies to learn on the court as well.

— mike richman, OregonLive.com, "Trail Blazers' rookies Zach Collins, Caleb Swanigan join crowded rotation in Portland," 27 June 2017
Catherine Golladay, a senior vice president and 20-year veteran of Schwab, said those are some of the tangibles.

— plain dealer business staff, cleveland.com, "Charles Schwab earns top spot among large employers, with paid sabbaticals, volunteer work: Top Workplaces 2017," 18 June 2017
So focus on the tangibles, not the potential shadiness (noise is noise, innocent or not).

— andrea bonior, chicagotribune.com, "I'm not into him but he won't stop texting me. Other than ghosting, what can I do?," 7 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of tangible

see ¹tangible

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1890

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

TANGIBLE Defined for English Language Learners

tangible

adjective

: easily seen or recognized
: able to be touched or felt

TANGIBLE Defined for Kids

tangible

adjective tan·gi·ble \ ˈtan-jə-bəl \

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

—

tangibly

\-blē\ adverb

Word Root of tangible

The Latin word tangere, meaning “to touch,” and its form tactus give us the roots tang and tact. Words from the Latin tangere have something to do with touching. Something tangible is able to be touched. Contact is a meeting or touching of people or things. Something intact is unharmed, whole, and untouched. Anything tactile relates to the sense of touch.