tangible

/ˈtæn.dʒə.bəl/

adjective

  1. Clear, real, or definite enough to be seen, felt, or measured; not abstract or imaginary.

    B2
    • "The new job offers tangible benefits, like a higher salary and better health insurance."A2
    • "The investigation found no tangible evidence linking the suspect to the crime."B1
    • "The reforms produced tangible improvements in students' reading scores within a single school year."C1

  2. Able to be touched or physically perceived; having a real, material form.

    B2

    usually before a noun

    • "The statue is a tangible object you can hold in your hands."A2
    • "Unlike a digital file, a printed photograph is something completely tangible."B1
    • "The installation invited visitors to treat abstract ideas as tangible, physical presences in the gallery space."C1

Common mistakes

  • The policy has tangible improved the results.→The policy has tangibly improved the results.

    Tangible is an adjective. Use the adverb form tangibly to modify a verb.

  • The surface had a tangible feel.→The surface had a tactile feel.

    Tactile specifically means relating to the sense of touch. Tangible means real, material, or definite — it doesn't describe how something feels when touched.

Collocations

tangible benefitstangible evidencetangible resultstangible assetstangible proof

Word family

tangiblytangibilityintangibleintangiblyintangibility