# audible

/ˈɑdəbəɫ/ (US) · /ˈɔːdəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/audible
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. able to be heard

adjective · CEFR B2

loud enough for you to hear clearly.

For teachers: capable of being heard; within the range of human auditory perception.

- Her voice was barely audible over the loud noise of the traffic.
- The speaker's comments were clearly audible to those in the front row, but the back of the hall suffered from poor acoustics.

Usage: Often used with 'barely' or 'clearly' to describe the volume of a sound.

### 2. a last-minute change

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Informal

a change to a plan made at the very last second, often used in sports or business.

For teachers: a play called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage to replace a previously briefed play; by extension, any last-minute tactical change.

- The manager called an audible and changed the presentation topic just before the meeting started.
- Recognising the defensive shift, the quarterback called an audible, alerting his wide receivers to a change in their running routes.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'to call an audible'.

Teaching tip: While this started in American football, you will hear it in business meetings when someone changes a plan suddenly.

### 3. to change a plan suddenly

verb · CEFR C2 · American English · Technical

to change a plan or a play at the last moment by shouting new instructions.

For teachers: to signal a change in play at the line of scrimmage; used intransitively to describe the act of pivoting tactics verbally.

- The team had to audible when they saw the other players were ready for their first plan.
- The veteran quarterback preferred to audible frequently, relying on his ability to read the opposing defense in the final seconds before the snap.

Usage: The verb is intransitive and does not usually take a direct object.

## Examples

- The music was audible from the street.
- The teacher lowered her voice until it was barely audible to the students in the back row.
- Although the signal was weak, the pilot's voice remained audible throughout the turbulent descent, allowing the control tower to maintain contact.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.