especially: an asset capable of being appraised at an actual or approximate value
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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.
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
Example Sentences
AdjectiveThese 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 2002Piniella 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. 2001This 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 2001Traveling 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. NounIn this agora, the price of what you buy and sell need bear no implacable relationship to any tangibles. Jodie Allen, New Republic, 5 June 2000The 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 1991They 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. 1987See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
But much of her wealth is tied up in tangible assets that haven't exactly appreciated like the stocks of Microsoft or Amazon, which have soared 240,000% and 146,000%, respectively, since their IPOs. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2022 Gold, oil and other tangible assets all ended inflationary periods in the green, the analysts found. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 20 July 2022 Goldco is a great company for different kinds of investors who want to own tangible assets like precious metals, and protect their retirement money against potential financial crises. Laxmi Corp, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 July 2022 While other stablecoins like Tether and USDCoin are tied to tangible assets, TerraUSD was tied to another cryptocurrency, Luna, in order to maintain price equilibrium. Colin Lodewick, Fortune, 8 June 2022 Aside from some stablecoins, cryptocurrencies are backed by no tangible assets, so even outlandish predictions of their value are unfalsifiable. Greg Ip, WSJ, 18 May 2022 The metaverse itself acts as a digital twin to our universe and our reality, and what's inside are more digital twins of tangible things that will eventually be used for transactions and optimizing business processes. Daniel Fallmann, Forbes, 3 May 2022 Not just material, tangible things… like a beautiful house, perfect weather and gorgeous cars. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 2 May 2022 In contrast, nations use traditional forms of conflict to control tangible assets, such as capturing resources or occupying territory. Erik Gartzke, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2022
Noun
Tokenization of any asset tends to inherit a large amount of benefits such as making the respective asset tangible, and the same goes for data. Philipp Sandner, Forbes, 6 July 2021 For Americans living in cities like New York, the reality of the pandemic has been obvious since March, when round-the-clock sirens and nightly cheers for healthcare workers made the virus’s impact tangible even for those who escaped infection. Katie Palmer, Quartz, 11 Dec. 2020 After battling plantar fasciitis in 2019, a 14-hit, two-homer postseason gave him more tangibles to bring into free agency. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2019 Managing a bullpen effectively is equal parts tangibles and gut. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 4 June 2019 In terms of tangibles, the guy who departed hitting .241 in 83 at-bats figures to have minimal impact on a feast-or-famine offense that struggles to manufacture runs. David Haugh, chicagotribune.com, 30 July 2019 Far more important is the subjective feel of a tire, as well as other tangibles like noise, road harshness and, of course, price. Mike Allen, Popular Mechanics, 16 July 2010 Wagner brings plenty of tangibles to the table for NBA teams to consider. Tim Hackett, SI.com, 12 June 2018 Despite these aforementioned tangibles being in place, Roberto Baggio still missed his spot kick.SI.com, 13 May 2018 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tangere to touch