perceptible
gb/pɚsˈɛptəbəl/ us/pɚsˈɛptəbəl/
C1
English
~ 8000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
Able to be noticed or sensed
Possible to see, hear, feel, or notice, even if it is small or weak.
Usage pattern:
[something] is perceptible (to [someone])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "perceptible" with "perceptive". "Perceptible" describes something that can be noticed (e.g., "a perceptible sound"), while "perceptive" describes a person who understands things quickly (e.g., "a very perceptive teacher"). Do not say *"He is very perceptible"*; say *"He is very perceptive"*.
Synonyms
noticeable (More common and neutral; does not especially suggest that the thing is small or faint.)
|
discernible (Slightly formal; often used when something is just clear enough to be recognized, especially with effort.)
Antonyms
imperceptible (Describes something that cannot be detected by the senses or mind at all.)
Collocations
barely perceptible
|perceptible sound
|perceptible movement
|perceptible smile
|perceptible shift
|perceptible difference
Themes
perception
|science
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There was a barely perceptible pause before she answered.
- A faint but perceptible smell of smoke hung in the air.
- His lips curved in a perceptible smile when he heard her name.
- The temperature drop was perceptible as soon as the sun went down.
- From this distance, the sound of traffic is still perceptible.
Learner examples
- There was a small but perceptible noise in the room.
- The light was weak but still perceptible through the curtains.
- Her anger was perceptible in her voice.
- A cool wind was perceptible on my face.
- The difference in color is easily perceptible.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
Large enough to notice as change
Big enough to see or feel as a change or effect.
Usage pattern:
a perceptible [change/effect/difference] in [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may use "perceptible" when they only mean "big" or "strong". "Perceptible" focuses on being noticeable as a change or effect, not simply being large. For example, instead of *"a perceptible city"*, say *"a big city"*; use "perceptible" with abstract nouns like "change", "difference", "effect", or "improvement". Also do not confuse it with "perceptive", which describes a person.
Synonyms
appreciable (Formal; commonly used in statistics, economics, and science for amounts large enough to matter or to be measured.)
|
measurable (Emphasizes that the change or effect can be measured, not just felt or seen.)
Antonyms
negligible (Describes a change or effect so small that it can be ignored or is not important.)
Collocations
perceptible improvement
|perceptible change
|perceptible increase
|perceptible decline
|perceptible effect
|no perceptible difference
Themes
measurement
|change
|science
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After six months, there was a perceptible improvement in her English.
- The policy has had no perceptible effect on unemployment so far.
- We noticed a perceptible increase in sales after the new campaign.
- There has been a perceptible decline in public trust in recent years.
- The treatment produced only a small but perceptible change in his condition.
Learner examples
- There was a perceptible change in the weather.
- His mood showed a perceptible improvement after lunch.
- The new rules made no perceptible difference to our work.
- We saw a perceptible increase in visitor numbers this year.
- The medicine had a perceptible effect after one hour.
Grammar
Dictionary form
perceptible
IPA
GB/pɚsˈɛptəbəl/
US/pɚsˈɛptəbəl/
Syllables & stress
per - cept - ible (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (per)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: perceptible
- Comparative: perceptibler
- Superlative: perceptiblest
Word family
Forms
perceptibler
adjective
perceptiblest
adjective
Core family
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
perceptual
adjective
perceptually
adverb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.