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perceptible

adjective
per·​cep·​ti·​ble | \ pər-ˈsep-tə-bəl How to pronounce perceptible (audio) \

Definition of perceptible

: capable of being perceived especially by the senses a perceptible change in her tone a barely perceptible light
Other Words from perceptible Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about perceptible

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Other Words from perceptible

perceptibility \ pər-​ˌsep-​tə-​ˈbi-​lə-​tē How to pronounce perceptibility (audio) \ noun
perceptibly \ pər-​ˈsep-​tə-​blē How to pronounce perceptibly (audio) \ adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for perceptible

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

Did You Know?

If something is "perceptible," you can "capture" it with your senses. "Perceptible" traces back to the Latin word capere, which means "to take," combined with the prefix per-, which means "thoroughly." It shares the "capere" part of its ancestry with a number of other English words related to seizing or being seized, including "capture," "captor," "captivate," and even "catch."

Examples of perceptible in a Sentence

The sound was barely perceptible. There was a perceptible change in the audience's mood.

Recent Examples on the Web

 In any case, there’s often little use in speculating about how barely perceptible yet still insidious events can cascade into disastrous results and whether or not your circumstances will save you. — Leta Shy, SELF, "Allyson Felix Wants to Save Black Mothers," 30 July 2019 However, if the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) retains it dominance, the election could result in a barely perceptible shift. — James Griffiths, CNN, "Japan election: Surge of women candidates could reshape male-dominated parliament," 18 July 2019 Imbued with a touch of magical realism that never fully coalesces, there’s no perceptible cohesiveness to the plot. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, "Review: The slick Spanish thriller ‘Boi’ is undercut by an abundance of style," 25 July 2019 There's no perceptible drag from the motor system, and, unassisted the Creo rides crisply on flat roads and descents. — Matt Phillips, Popular Mechanics, "The Specialized Turbo Creo SL Is an E-Bike That Changes Everything," 16 July 2019 The extreme range of flavors, from piercing vinegar to salty to sweet to barely perceptible umami, isn’t easy to recreate. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appétit, "Make This Healthier Barbecue Sauce and Put It On Everything You Grill This Summer," 16 July 2019 Their main objection is that the policy would impose significant costs on Oregonians without a perceptible impact on the global problem. — Hillary Borrud | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive.com, "Oregon Senate Republicans’ walkout over climate vote: the 8 things you need to know to understand the standoff," 24 June 2019 Skydome Restaurant at DoubleTree, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington Height of view: 200 feet The barely perceptible rotation of this (unintentionally) retro restaurant affords ample opportunity to contemplate a variety of views. — Washington Post, "The 7 most spectacular views in D.C., ranked," 13 June 2019 None of these complex underpinnings, however, are perceptible to the reader. — Luc Sante, Harper's magazine, "A Crew of Variegated Weirdos," 10 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'perceptible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of perceptible

1567, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for perceptible

perceptible

adjective
How to pronounce perceptible (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of perceptible

: able to be seen or noticed : able to be perceived

See the full definition for perceptible in the English Language Learners Dictionary

perceptible

adjective
per·​cep·​ti·​ble | \ pər-ˈsep-tə-bəl How to pronounce perceptible (audio) \

Kids Definition of perceptible

: possible to detect There has been a perceptible change.

perceptible

adjective
per·​cep·​ti·​ble | \ pər-ˈsep-tə-bəl How to pronounce perceptible (audio) \

Medical Definition of perceptible

: capable of being perceived especially by the senses barely perceptible motion sound perceptible by the human ear

Other Words from perceptible

perceptibility

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