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Palpable Definition – Meaning And Usage In A Sentence

Palpable Definition – Meaning And Usage In A Sentence

If you are a fan of the works of William Shakespeare and other great writers and poets, then you have likely encountered the word “palpable.” But do you know the palpable definition and meaning? Worry not even if you have never heard of this word before.

Palpable means “something clear to the mind, evident, or plain.” The word describes something you do not need to explain or argue about because it is apparent. Palpable also describes something tangible that can be handled or perceived by the senses; hearing, seeing, touching, tasting, or smelling.

Palpable is an old English word with Latin roots. However, its applications in the modern generation have declined, and many people do not know its meaning. Read the rest of this post to uncover the meanings and other interesting facts about the word palpable.

classroom teacher

What Is The Definition Of Palpable?

Palpable is something or a feeling that does not need the effort to explain and is easily perceived or noticeable.

Here are some sentence examples:

  • The announcement prompted palpable excitement among the audience.
  • The small talk could not erase the palpable tension in the room.
  • The unease between the couple was palpable from the moment they entered the room.

Other Meanings of Palpable

Besides the above definition, there are other meanings of “palpable” you should know. They include:

  • In medicine, palpable refers to something evident that you can detect by touching, examining, or observing. For example, in a sentence, “The damage to the kid’s kidneys was palpable in the C.T. scans.”
  • Palpable also means something obvious you cannot argue against or explain otherwise. For example, in a sentence, “The furry in Mike’s heartbeat was palpable, and everyone could feel it.”

Questions Most People Ask About Palpable

Learning a new word can be intimidating, especially when doing it alone, because you may not have someone to ask questions to when things get confusing. So we have you covered in this section with the following questions often asked about “palpable” and their answers.

What is the past tense of palpable? Since palpable is an adjective, it does not have a past or present tense. In English, words with past and present tenses are usually verbs. Also, note that palpable does not have a singular or plural form because it is not a noun.

How can you use palpable in different contexts? Here are a few situations within which the word palpable may apply;

  • When you want to describe something as “clear in meaning or without ambiguity.” (The student’s anger about the new rules was palpable).
  • Describe something that can be touched. (The rawness of the mango was palpable).
  • Describe something you cannot disapprove or argue against or need little effort to explain or understand. (The pain in her eyes was palpable).

What Is The Meaning Of Palpable?

The word “palpable” means “capable of being touched, felt, handled, or tangible.” You can use it to describe something naturally intangible but may feel tangible in certain situations because of its intensity—for instance, a feeling. 

Here are some sentence examples:

  • The fear in the classroom was palpable when the headmaster walked in.
  • A palpable sadness was in the air when the governor broke the news of the passing boys.
  • The anger among the students was so palpable that the administration was terrified to approach the riot.

Synonyms of Palpable

Learning synonyms is a great tool for growing your language and can provide several ways to say the same thing. Here are some words with similar meanings and contextual applications as palpable.

  • Obvious
  • Apparent
  • Visible
  • Perceptible
  • Tangible
  • Blatant
  • Substantial
  • Carnal

Antonyms of Palpable

Learning antonyms while studying a new word is an excellent way of making your study enjoyable. It introduces you to new words, meanings, and contexts you will be excited to learn. Below are words with the opposite meaning as palpable.

Words That Rhyme With Palpable

Educators use rhyming as a tool for reading development for kids. However, you can also use it as an adult to help you learn new words and pass them along to your kids and family. Here are examples of words that rhyme with palpable that you can use to create rhymes.

  • Variable
  • Double
  • Sensible
  • Comfortable
  • Comparable
  • Example
  • Notable
  • Capable

How To Use Palpable In A Sentence

The word palpable is an adjective. Therefore, it applies in sentences whenever you want to describe a setting, situation, feeling, or character. But before applying it, you should master its meaning and word forms to communicate clearly. 

Various Word Forms of Palpable

One of the best things about the English language is that you can use a word in several ways. For instance, you can use palpable in various contexts and apply its different word forms depending on the syntax. Below are some different word forms of palpable and examples of how you can apply them in sentences;

The verb for palpable is “palpate,” meaning “to examine or explore something, like an area or an organ of the human body by feeling it.” For example, in a sentence, “The doctors need to palpate the organ to describe its textural characteristics.”

Other verb forms for “palpable” are; palpates (plural for palpate) and palpated (simple past tense and past participle for palpate). In a sentence, “The presence of deep tissue damage will display induration on the area when palpated.” Note that the verb forms for palpable may be used within certain contexts as adjectives.

The present participle of palpate is “palpating.” For instance, “She loves sticking her fingers in her creations, palpating, and analyzing their contents.”

The adverb for palpable is “palpably,” meaning “to perform something in a palpable manner.” For instance, in a sentence, “There is a palpably insensitive sense to all of their recent decisions.”

10 Examples Of Palpable In A Sentence

Now that you know the meaning of palpable, the next natural step is using it in sentences to help you remember and understand it better. Below are a few examples to inspire your sentence constructions with the word “palpable.”

  1. The pain was almost palpable, and I could not hide how raw and miserable it felt.
  2. As Martha entered the room, a palpable tension made everyone start walking out in silence.
  3. The students were so tense about the upcoming exam that there was a palpable sense of panic in their classroom.
  4. The actors were so talented that when they played the death scene, the feeling of sadness was palpable among the audience.
  5. According to doctors, many diabetes patients have no palpable temperature changes due to distal vasodilation from autonomic neuropathy.
  6. The streets of Chicago have been deathly silent since the incident, and there is a palpable sense of misery in the atmosphere.
  7. Today was such a hard day at work for the railroad constructors; the heat of their exertions was palpable.
  8. The tumor is only palpable on rectal and abdominal scans.
  9. As the police officer tackled the man to the ground, the tension and anger among the crowd of onlookers were palpable as they feared for his life.
  10. The growing frustration and anger in the black community are so palpable that the leaders and other communities are terrified.

How Do You Spell Palpable?

The correct spelling for this word is “P.A.L.P.A.B.L.E.”

This word is quite simple to spell, especially if you pronounce it correctly and break it down into syllables. However, people still make many spelling mistakes when writing this word. For example, some common mistakes for the spelling of palpable are; papable, palable, or palbably. When learning a new word, you need to be careful about making spelling mistakes because once they are imprinted into your memory, they will be hard to unlearn.

How Do You Pronounce Palpable?

The correct pronunciation for palpable is “/pal-puh-bl/.”

Also, the phonetic spelling for palpable is \ˈpal-pə-bəl\, which explains its technical pronunciation.

How Many Syllables Are In Palpable?

The word palpable has three syllables.

The syllables are broken down into; “pal – pa – ble.” Note that the stressed syllable is “pal.”

History & Etymology Of Palpable

The word palpable stems from the Late Latin word “palpabilis,” meaning “something that may be touched or felt.”

Another origin for the word “palpable” is Latin “palpare,” meaning “to touch gently or stroke.” Additionally, “pal” means “to feel, easily perceived, evident, clear, or obvious.” Other sources claim that the word “palpable” originates from French.

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When Was Palpable First Used?

The first known use of “palpable” is in the late 14th century.

However, this word gained traction in the 1600s when William Shakespeare used it in his famous play ‘Hamlet, act 5, Scene 2.” Since then, the word has gained popularity among writers and composers.

Conclusion

Palpable is an interesting English word that writers and linguists adore. However, many people shy from using it because they do not know its meaning or think it is too complex. This post will make you realize how straightforward it is and how easily you can apply the word in everyday conversations and writings. Feel free to share your thoughts about this word and suggest what we should cover next.