tangible

adjective tan·gi·ble \ ˈtan-jə-bəl \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: tangible in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of tangible

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

Farm camp might be the most tangible way for kids to learn where their food comes from, all while experiencing a vital slice of Wisconsin culture.

— anne schamberg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Farming out the kids: Gathering eggs, milking cows, cooking teach about country life," 3 July 2018
But Sharma, who had interned at GM in 2016, wanted to use her knowledge to create something tangible, such as car.

— jamie l. lareau, Detroit Free Press, "In auto talent war, GM hires 9,000, spends $1 billion on offices," 14 June 2018
For a place with a civic inferiority complex but a rising profile in some tangible ways, this is heady stuff.

— sam mellinger, kansascity, "The importance of Kansas City hearing 'yes' about the World Cup," 13 June 2018
For those in our communities, lofty and abstract notions tied to a college education bear little meaning if a degree does not actually improve their lives in some tangible way.

— ken trzaska, Washington Post, "Lesson from Liberal, Kan.: Community colleges must reach out more to communities," 12 June 2018
This means that President Trump needs something to come from the meeting, something tangible, for this to be considered a success.

— christina cliff, Fortune, "Trump’s First Meeting With Kim May Be Little More Than a Photo Op," 11 June 2018
Mister God Fearing American, are affected in no tangible way.

— drew magary, GQ, "Why the Anthem Works For Trump," 6 June 2018
The statistics, as seen below, are a very tangible way to compare and form the basis of a player’s case.

— jeff zillgitt, USA TODAY, "Michael Jordan or LeBron James: Which one is the Greatest of All Time?," 13 May 2018
Experts believe that freeing the three men would be a tangible way for North Korea to try to lower tensions with the US before what would be a historic summit.

— alex ward, Vox, "North Korea has just released 3 American hostages," 9 May 2018

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 \

Definition of tangible

: 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

Wagner brings plenty of tangibles to the table for NBA teams to consider.

— tim hackett, SI.com, "Embraced by a Home Away from Home, Moritz Wagner Is Finally Ready for a New Challenge," 12 June 2018
Despite these aforementioned tangibles being in place, Roberto Baggio still missed his spot kick.

— SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 6 Weeks to Go - Roberto Baggio & the Elusive Daemon of Genius," 13 May 2018
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

Definition of tangible for English Language Learners

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

TANGIBLE Defined for Kids

tangible

adjective tan·gi·ble \ ˈtan-jə-bəl \

Definition of tangible for Students

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.