audible

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.