sensible
sensible — adjective
1. showing the wisdom that comes from careful thinking and real-life experience
showing the wisdom that comes from careful thinking and real-life experience
William decided it was sensible to save part of his salary each month for emergencies.
pattern: it is sensible to + infinitive (giving advice/recommendation)
Lara made a sensible choice by taking the earlier train to avoid the rush-hour crowds.
collocation: a sensible choice / decision
Tamar's father warned her it was not sensible to invest all her savings in one startup.
Élise's sensible suggestion to book the train tickets early saved the group over forty dollars.
Kevin considered himself a sensible person, so he asked his cousin to sign a written agreement before lending the money.
- reasonable
focuses on fairness and logic rather than practical experience; 'a reasonable price'
- practical
emphasises real-world usefulness over theory; 'a practical solution'
- rational
more formal, stressing logical thinking without emotional influence; 'a rational argument'
- wise
implies deeper life experience and broader judgment; 'a wise old woman'
文法句型
it is sensible to + infinitive
sensible + noun (choice, decision, person)
be + sensible
用法筆記
Commonly used with impersonal it: 'It is sensible to wear a helmet.' Can describe a person ('She is very sensible') or a thing ('That is a sensible plan'). The opposite is foolish or unwise, not 'insensible'.
常見錯誤
2. chosen or designed to be practical, comfortable, and useful for a particular act
chosen or designed to be practical, comfortable, and useful for a particular activity, rather than to look fashionable or attractive
Yael wore sensible walking boots for the trip through the muddy forest trail.
collocation: sensible shoes / boots
Faisal packed a sensible waterproof jacket instead of a designer coat for the camping trip.
The school asks students to wear sensible flat shoes during science lab classes every week.
Ingrid chose a sensible bag with multiple pockets to carry her laptop and books.
The nurse's uniform is designed to be sensible — easy to clean and comfortable to wear.
- practical
broader; 'a practical jacket' could mean it has useful features beyond just comfort and durability
- functional
more neutral; emphasises that something serves its intended purpose well
- serviceable
suggests durability and adequate performance, often used for work clothes
- fashionable
following current trends, often at the expense of comfort or practicality
- stylish
attractive in appearance, which can conflict with practical design
文法句型
sensible + clothing noun (shoes, clothes, jacket)
be + sensible (of an item)
用法筆記
Applies almost exclusively to clothing, shoes, bags, and equipment. Can connote a mild contrast with stylish: calling something 'sensible' may imply it is not fashionable, though this connotation is softening in modern use.
常見錯誤
3. having understanding or knowledge of a particular situation, feeling, or fact; a
having understanding or knowledge of a particular situation, feeling, or fact; aware of something in a thoughtful way
The senator was sensible of the public's growing anger about the proposed tax increase.
pattern: sensible of + [abstract noun]
Sade was fully sensible of the risk she was taking by leaving her steady job at the bank.
adverb modifier: fully / keenly sensible of
Kasia remained sensible of the cultural differences throughout her year abroad in Japan.
The committee was sensible of the need to reach a decision before the deadline passed.
文法句型
sensible of + noun/gerund
fully/keenly sensible of
用法筆記
This sense is formal and increasingly rare in everyday speech. It is almost always followed by of (not about) and often modified by an adverb such as fully, keenly, or acutely. Modern English prefers aware of in most contexts.
常見錯誤
4. large, strong, or clear enough to be noticed or felt through the senses
large, strong, or clear enough to be noticed or felt through the senses
João noticed a sensible drop in the bath water temperature after he had been soaking for twenty minutes.
collocation: a sensible + [observable physical effect]
Roya felt a sensible tremor run through the floorboards whenever a heavy truck passed her apartment.
After insulating the attic, the family noticed a sensible difference in their winter heating bills.
The doctor found no sensible change in Mizuki's breathing after two days of the new treatment.
- noticeable
the everyday replacement for this sense; 'a noticeable improvement'
- perceptible
more technical, especially in scientific writing; 'a barely perceptible change'
- significant
emphasises importance as well as size; 'a significant increase'
- imperceptible
too small or slight to be noticed
- negligible
so small that it does not matter
文法句型
a sensible + noun
be + sensible
用法筆記
This sense is now very rare in modern English except in formal or literary writing. The word noticeable, perceptible, or significant is preferred in everyday speech. Distinguish from sense 1: a 'sensible difference' does not mean 'a wise difference' — it means 'a difference large enough to notice.'
常見錯誤
sensible — noun
1. in philosophy, a thing or quality that human senses can detect — such as an obje
in philosophy, a thing or quality that human senses can detect — such as an object you can see, hear, or touch — rather than an idea or a mental concept
The philosopher argued that colours and sounds are sensibles that exist only when someone perceives them.
pattern: sensibles = objects of perception (philosophical term)
A ripe mango's sweet smell and soft texture are sensibles that our senses can detect directly.
For ancient Greek thinkers, taste and smell were sensibles that could not be fully described in words.
The lecture compared mathematical objects, which are invisible, with sensibles such as tables and chairs.
- sense-datum
technical term in philosophy for the raw content of sensory experience
- phenomenon
broader; anything that appears to the senses or the mind
文法句型
the sensible
sensible + verb
用法筆記
This noun use belongs almost entirely to academic philosophy. In everyday English you will never hear someone use sensible as a noun. Use perceived object, physical thing, or sense-datum instead.