Vocabulary
tangible
adjective·/TAN-juh-buhl/
Real and definite enough to be clearly seen, felt, or measured. Literally, something you can touch; figuratively, something solid and not vague.
Tangible is the word for "I can actually point to it." In its literal sense it means physical, touchable. But the figurative use is more common at work: "tangible results," "tangible progress," "tangible benefits" all mean concrete and demonstrable, not just talk. Its opposite, "intangible," is equally useful for the real-but-unmeasurable things like trust or morale. Reach for "tangible" when you want to stress that something is solid and provable.
5 ways to use “tangible” in a sentence
- “I want tangible results this quarter, not just activity.”
- “After weeks of planning, it was nice to see tangible progress.”
- “The benefits are tangible: we cut load times in half.”
- “There was a tangible sense of relief once the deal closed.”
- “Trust is intangible, but its effects are very tangible.”
Now say "tangible" out loud, in your own sentence.
The fastest way to actually own a word is to use it when you speak, not just read it. Practice in TalkStride and get scored on how clearly it comes out.
Common mistakes
- Using it only literally. The figurative "tangible results" sense is the more common one at work.
- Confusing it with "tangential," which means only slightly related. Different word entirely.
- Spelling it "tangable"; it is "tangible."
Similar words, and how they differ
concrete
Concrete means specific and definite. Tangible adds the sense of being real enough to point to or measure.
physical
Physical means made of matter. Tangible can be figurative, real and demonstrable without being a physical object.
measurable
Measurable means it can be quantified. Tangible is broader, clearly real, whether or not you put a number on it.