tangible
tangible — adjective
1. real enough to be seen, touched, or shown to be true — not something that exists
real enough to be seen, touched, or shown to be true — not something that exists only as an idea or feeling.
Ishaan needed tangible proof before he believed the story about the break-in.
collocation: tangible proof
The charity wanted to see tangible results from the money people had donated.
collocation: tangible results
Elena could not find any tangible evidence to support her claim against the company.
After years of work, the team finally saw tangible progress on the new hospital.
The therapist told Shirin that real fear can exist without a tangible cause.
- concrete
focuses on being specific and definite; concrete plans are more detailed than tangible results
- physical
stresses material existence; more literal, less used for evidence or proof
- palpable
implies being so strong you can almost feel it; palpable tension, not a synonym for everyday tangibility
- solid
informal, suggests something well-founded; solid evidence is reliable, not just touchable
- abstract
existing only as an idea, not as a physical reality
- imaginary
existing only in the mind, not in reality at all
- intangible
the direct opposite; cannot be touched or precisely defined
文法句型
tangible + noun (evidence/proof/results/benefits)
be + tangible
用法筆記
Often used with nouns like evidence, proof, results, benefits, or progress to highlight a contrast with abstract ideas. The opposite in most contexts is intangible.
常見錯誤
2. describing physical items or property owned by a business that have a clear mone
describing physical items or property owned by a business that have a clear monetary value and can be sold or exchanged.
Mira's furniture company owned tangible assets like buildings, trucks, and factory equipment.
collocation: tangible assets
When Indra applied for a business loan, the bank checked his tangible property and savings.
collocation: tangible property
A delivery van is a tangible asset that can be sold quickly for cash.
The accountant listed all the firm's tangible holdings, including office furniture and computers.
Tamás family farm had many tangible goods such as tractors, tools, and livestock.
- intangible
the standard accounting opposite; intangible assets include patents and brand recognition
文法句型
tangible + asset/property/goods/holdings
tangible + noun (business context)
用法筆記
Almost always placed before nouns such as assets, property, or goods. In business writing the direct opposite is intangible assets — things like brand value, patents, or goodwill that have worth but no physical form.
常見錯誤
tangible — noun
1. something that the mind can clearly recognise or accept as definite and real, ra
something that the mind can clearly recognise or accept as definite and real, rather than a vague idea or feeling.
Philosophers debate whether emotions are tangibles or simply mental events without physical form.
philosophical context
For Naoko, only measurable data counted as a tangible in her scientific research.
The judge asked for tangibles — facts and documents — not just personal opinions.
Christopher struggled to turn his vague idea into a tangible that others could test.
- abstraction
an idea considered apart from any specific physical instance
- notion
a personal belief or impression, not necessarily grounded in evidence
文法句型
the tangible
a tangible
tangibles (plural)
用法筆記
Uncommon in everyday speech; appears more in academic, philosophical, or legal writing where the contrast between the abstract and the concrete is central. The phrase 'the tangible' can function as an abstract noun meaning 'the realm of things that can be perceived or proven'.
2. a physical item owned by a person or company that has a clear monetary worth and
a physical item owned by a person or company that has a clear monetary worth and can be sold or used as security.
The report divided the company's wealth into tangibles and intangible assets.
accounting: tangibles vs intangibles
Isabela prefers tangibles like land and machinery over promises of future profit.
Banks usually accept tangibles as security when lending money to a business.
Putri listed all her business tangibles on the insurance form to get coverage.
- intangible
an asset without physical substance, such as a patent or trademark
文法句型
tangibles (plural)
the tangible
tangibles + verb
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form (tangibles) in business and accounting contexts. The standard contrast is with intangibles — items like patents, brand recognition, or goodwill that have value but no physical body.