adjective

palpable

/ˈpælpəbəl/ · say it: PAL·puh·bul

so intense as to seem almost touchable

In Sophisticated Everyday

In more detail

1. (adjective) able to be touched or felt physically

2. (adjective) so strong or obvious that it seems almost real and can be easily noticed

Examples

1. The doctor felt a palpable lump in the patient's neck.
2. There was a palpable sense of relief when the exam was finally over.

How to use palpable

Palpable is used to describe something so evident or intense that it seems to have physical presence, particularly emotions or atmospheres. It emphasizes that something is not just present but immediately noticeable and almost tangible, often in abstract contexts like 'palpable excitement' or 'palpable hostility.' The physical meaning (able to be touched) is less common in contemporary usage.

Common phrases

palpable tension
palpable fear
palpable sense of
palpable relief
palpable difference

Synonyms

tangible · perceptible · noticeable · obvious · unmistakable

Opposites

imperceptible · intangible · subtle

Word family

palpably (adverb) · palpability (noun)

A common mistake

Learners often confuse palpable with palpitate (to beat rapidly); palpable refers to something obvious or felt, while palpitate means to throb or pulse.

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