adj
Uncommon
tangible
TAN-jih-bl
Tangible (adj) means Able to be touched or physically felt. Example: “The sculpture gave the abstract idea a tangible form.”
adj
1
Able to be touched or physically felt.
"The sculpture gave the abstract idea a tangible form."
"Blind visitors could handle the tangible models of the famous buildings."
"The warmth of the fire was almost tangible on the cold evening."
2
Real and definite enough to be clearly recognized, rather than vague or theoretical.
"The new policy delivered tangible improvements within a year."
"We need tangible proof, not just promises."
"After months of training, she could see tangible progress in her running times."
How to use tangible
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething you can physically touch, or more broadly, something concrete and clearly real rather than abstract.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tangible results
tangible benefits
tangible evidence
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Word forms
- Plural
- tangibles
- Comparative
- more tangible
- Superlative
- most tangible
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The sculpture gave the abstract idea a _____ form.
Etymology
From Latin tangere ("to touch"), via Late Latin tangibilis and Middle French tangible.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for tangible
See all rhymes for tangible →Frequently asked questions
What does “tangible” mean?
The word “tangible” means able to be touched or physically felt. In plain terms, something you can physically touch, or more broadly, something concrete and clearly real rather than abstract.
How do you pronounce “tangible”?
“Tangible” is pronounced TAN-jih-bl (/ˈtæn.d͡ʒə.bəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “tangible” in a sentence?
Here is “tangible” used in a sentence: “The sculpture gave the abstract idea a tangible form.”
What is the opposite of “tangible”?
The opposite of “tangible” — its antonyms — is intangible.
What part of speech is “tangible”?
“Tangible” is an adjective.
Where does the word “tangible” come from?
The word “tangible” comes from Late Latin. From Latin tangere ("to touch"), via Late Latin tangibilis and Middle French tangible.
Is “tangible” a common word?
“Tangible” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tangible” have?
“Tangible” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: able to be touched or physically felt.
What is the difference between tangible and intangible?
Tangible describes something able to be touched or physically felt, such as a tangible object, while intangible refers to something that cannot be physically touched, like an idea, feeling, or reputation. The two words are direct opposites used to contrast physical and non-physical things or benefits.
What does it mean to have tangible evidence or results?
Tangible evidence or results means they are real and definite enough to be clearly recognized, rather than vague or theoretical. Saying a project produced tangible results implies the outcomes are concrete and verifiable, not just abstract claims.
What is the difference between tangible and concrete?
Tangible and concrete overlap closely when describing something real and definite rather than vague, though tangible more strongly emphasizes the physical, touchable quality of an object, while concrete is often used for facts, plans, or evidence that are specific and clearly defined even if not physical.
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