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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.
Examples of tangible in a Sentence
Brad Lemley, Discover, October 2002
Piniella 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. 2001
This 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 2001
Traveling 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.
Noun
In this agora, the price of what you buy and sell need bear no implacable relationship to any tangibles.
—Jodie Allen, New Republic, 5 June 2000
The 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 1991
They 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. 1987
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Scientists made the threat tangible with colored satellite pictures and clear discussion of the health consequences.
—Andrea Miotti, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Leavitt says the growth he’s seen from his fellow teammate has been more than just the tangibles.
—Alyssa Cooper
july 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tangible
Cite this Entry
“Tangible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tangible. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tangible
1 of 2 adjective
tangible
2 of 2 nounLegal Definition
tangible
adjective
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