audible

1 of 3

adjective

au·​di·​ble ˈȯ-də-bəl How to pronounce audible (audio)
Synonyms of audiblenext
: heard or capable of being heard
spoke in a barely audible voice
audibility
ˌȯ-də-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce audible (audio)
noun
audibly
ˈȯ-də-blē How to pronounce audible (audio)
adverb

audible

2 of 3

noun

American football
: a substitute offensive or defensive play called at the line of scrimmage

audible

3 of 3

verb

audibled; audibling ˈȯ-də-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce audible (audio)

intransitive verb

American football
: to call an audible
Chicago quarterback Jim Harbaugh audibled to a pass play …—Peter King

Examples of audible in a Sentence

Adjective Her voice was barely audible over the noise. He let out an audible sigh.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Its return to the launch pad is expected to result in audible sonic booms around the landing zone. —William Gavin, Quartz, 18 Nov. 2024 His words were unmistakably aimed at Puerto Ricans, and the audience's reaction was an audible gasp rather than laughter. —Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
Protest audible from courtroom The sounds of a sidewalk protest over the death of Neely were audible in the 13th-floor courtroom ahead of opening statements. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2024 But an injury to superstar point guard Steph Curry made Golden State call an audible. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
The moxie to audible — without permission — and deliver a pinpoint pass for a 42-yard gain is intoxicating. —Ben Standig, The Athletic, 12 Aug. 2024 The textures respected Mahler’s passion for transparency: the flute audible through the strings, the harps palpable amid the brasses. —Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 7 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for audible 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Late Latin audībilis, from Latin audīre "to hear" + -bilis "subject to or capable of (the action of the verb)"; audīre perhaps going back to Indo-European *h2eu̯is- "evident, manifest" (akin, with varying vowel placement and ablaut grades, to Greek aḯein "to perceive, hear," Sanskrit āvíṣ "evidently," Avestan auuiš, Old Church Slavic avě, javě "clearly, manifestly," Lithuanian ovyje "in reality," Hittite au-/u- "see, look") + *dheh1- "put, place" — more at do entry 1, -able

Note: Though there is general agreement in the etymological literature on the identity of the first element of audiō, audīre, the second element is problematic. If audiō goes back to a pre-Latin *áwizdijō, the outcome of the cluster *-zdh- as -d- conflicts with its apparent outcome elsewhere as -st-, as in hasta "spear" (see yard entry 2) and perhaps in custōs "guardian" (see custody). (The cluster -zd- without an aspirate regularly yields loss of -z- with lengthening of the preceding vowel, as in nīdus "nest" from *nizdos—see nest entry 1.)

Noun

derivative of audible entry 1

Verb

derivative of audible entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1961, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of audible was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing audible

Dictionary Entries Near audible

Audi blade

audible

audible control

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Audible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/audible. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

audible

adjective
au·​di·​ble
ˈȯd-ə-bəl
: heard or capable of being heard
the sound was barely audible
audibility
ˌȯd-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
noun
audibly
ˈȯd-ə-blē
adverb

Medical Definition

audible

adjective
au·​di·​ble ˈȯd-ə-bəl How to pronounce audible (audio)
: heard or capable of being heard
audibility
ˌȯd-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce audible (audio)
noun
plural audibilities
audibly
ˈȯd-ə-blē How to pronounce audible (audio)
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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