WordGarden.ioaudible
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈɔːdəbəl/
US
- /ˈɑdəbəl/
Meanings
Adjective
able to be heard
Noun
a play change called by a quarterback at the line of scrimmage
Beyond the definition
Something audible is able to be heard. It doesn't necessarily mean it is being heard—just that it could be if someone were listening. A whisper might not be audible across a crowded room, but the roar of a jet engine certainly is! Think of a secret conversation; if someone overhears it, the conversation was audible to them. The word comes from the Latin "audire," meaning "to hear." You might describe a speaker's voice as being clearly audible, or complain about the annoying, audible dripping of a faucet.
The word audible describes anything that can be perceived by the sense of hearing. It refers to the threshold of perception; it simply means something produces sound waves strong enough to be detected. A tiny squeak from a mouse might be barely audible, while a booming thunderstorm is powerfully so.
It is important to remember that audible refers to the capacity to be heard. For example, a smoke alarm will emit an audible beep even if no one is home to hear it. In a classroom, a teacher might ask students to speak up so their answers are "more audible" to the rest of the group.
The term is also frequently used to describe non-verbal sounds that reveal emotion. You might describe a change in someone's voice as being "audible"—meaning you can hear a distinct difference in their tone—or notice an "audible sigh" that reveals someone's frustration without them saying a word.
So, whether it's the gentle hum of a refrigerator, the clear notes of a piano, or a subtle shift in someone's tone, anything that reaches your ears—or could reach your ears—is considered audible.
Examples
- 1
Train noise
Her answer was barely audible over the noise of the train.
- 2
Microphone use
Please speak into the microphone so your voice is audible to everyone in the room.
- Patternaudible to + person/group
able to be heard by them
- 3
Safety alarm
The alarm needs to be clearly audible from outside the building.
- Patternaudible from + place
able to be heard there
- 4
Meeting reaction
There was an audible sigh when the meeting was extended again.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Voice emotion
Even over the phone, the relief in his voice was audible.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- audibleadjectivenoun