perceivable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "perceivable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to describe something that is able to be sensed with one or more of the senses. For example, you could say, "The sweet aroma of fresh-baked cookies was perceivable from across the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But we don't want to say that whenever x is perceivable, it is perceived etc.

SEP

Horse and books, when not being actually perceived by any person, are still there, still perceivable, "still with relation to perception".

Encyclopedia Britannica

He argued that, when a person imagines trees or books "and no body by to perceive them," he is failing to appreciate the whole situation: he is "omitting" the perceiver, for imagined trees or books are necessarily imagined as perceivable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In principle, everything that exists is perceivable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

When an interval lasts more than a few seconds, it no longer is directly perceivable as a whole, but its length can be estimated on the basis of memory function.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ephesus, Priene, and Miletus, on the Aegean shores of Asia Minor, are examples of this type of harbour disappearance, the destructive agent in each of these cases being the picturesque Meander (now the Menderes Riverr, whose creation of new land from the sea is readily perceivable from high ground adjacent to the river mouth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This striation suggests two quite different things: the "dream" of life that like a river passes through names and forms (namarupa), but also its very opposite: the reinforcement of material reality, palpable, perceivable and bounded by time and space.

Independent

Often, it is this depth of flavour that is perceivable in the final dish rather than an actual beer taste.

Independent

The Prabhakaras admitted only such universals as inhere in perceptible instances and insisted that true universals themselves must be perceivable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To talk about any existent object is thus to talk about a collection of perceivable features localized in a particular portion of space-time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Once it is understood that objects are merely sets of properties and that such properties are in principle always perceivable, the notion that there is some sort of unbridgeable gap between people's perceptions and the objects they perceive is seen to be just a mistake.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "perceivable" when you want to emphasize that something is capable of being noticed or understood through the senses or intellect. It is often used in contexts where the ability to perceive is significant.

Common error

Avoid using "perceivable" when you actually mean "perceived". "Perceivable" indicates the potential to be perceived, while "perceived" indicates that something was actually sensed or understood.

Linguistic Context

The word "perceivable" functions primarily as an adjective. It describes the capability of something to be noticed or understood through the senses or intellect. As Ludwig indicates, "perceivable" is usable in written English to denote something that can be sensed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "perceivable" is a versatile adjective used to describe something capable of being sensed or understood. Ludwig's AI confirms its correct usage in written English. With a very common frequency, it appears across various domains, including science, news, and encyclopedias. Its function is to indicate the potential for sensory or intellectual recognition. Related terms like "discernible" and "perceptible" offer nuanced alternatives, while awareness of the potential confusion with "perceived" is crucial for precise writing. From best practices to identifying common errors, using "perceivable" effectively enhances clarity and accuracy in conveying ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perceptible

A very close synonym, but may imply a slightly weaker degree of clarity or impact compared to "perceivable".

observable

Stresses the capacity of being seen or witnessed, often in a scientific or objective context.

discernible

Emphasizes the ability to distinguish or recognize something, often implying a degree of effort or attention.

noticeable

Highlights the ease with which something can be observed or detected.

detectable

Focuses more on the capability of being discovered or identified, not necessarily through direct sensory experience.

evident

Focuses on the quality of being easily seen or understood, obvious.

apprehensible

Implies the capability of being understood or grasped intellectually, rather than just sensed.

visible

Specifically relates to sight; something that can be seen.

audible

Specifically relates to hearing; something that can be heard.

tangible

Implies something that can be touched or physically sensed; concrete.

FAQs

How is "perceivable" used in a sentence?

The term "perceivable" describes something capable of being sensed or understood. For example, "The change in temperature was barely perceivable", or "The benefits of the new policy were not immediately perceivable".

What is a close synonym for "perceivable"?

A close synonym for "perceivable" is "perceptible". Both words indicate something capable of being noticed through the senses.

Is it correct to say something is 'not perceivable'?

Yes, it is correct to say something is 'not perceivable'. It means that something is impossible or very difficult to detect or understand. For example, "The difference between the two samples was not perceivable".

What's the difference between "perceivable" and "visible"?

"Perceivable" refers to anything that can be sensed or understood, not just seen. "Visible" specifically relates to what can be seen. Thus, something can be perceivable (e.g. a faint smell) without being visible.