# inaudible

/ˌɪˈnɔdəbəɫ/ (US) · /ɪnˈɔːdəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inaudible
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

impossible to hear. You use this to describe a sound that is too quiet or too high for your ears to catch.

For teachers: unable to be heard; falling below the threshold of human hearing or obscured by other noise. Often follows a linking verb such as 'become' or 'remain'.

## Examples

- His voice was almost inaudible over the loud music.
- The speaker's microphone failed, making her closing remarks completely inaudible to the people at the back of the room.
- While the high-frequency whistle was inaudible to the human ear, it immediately caught the attention of the guard dogs stationed at the perimeter.

## Usage notes

- Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'become', or 'render'.

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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.