Word
visible
Phoneticsvis·i·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈvɪzəbəɫ/
UK/vˈɪzəbəl/
Definition
adj. easy to see or notice. You use this when something is not hidden and your eyes can find it clearly.
adj. perceivable by the eye; capable of being seen. Often used to describe physical objects or noticeable changes in data and behavior.
Examples
“The stars are clearly visible on a cloudless night.”
“The mountain peak remained visible through the morning mist, providing a useful landmark for the hikers.”
“While the immediate effects of the policy were visible in the quarterly reports, the long-term social consequences remained obscured by a lack of longitudinal data.”
Examples
simple
“The stars are clearly visible on a cloudless night.”
contextual
“The mountain peak remained visible through the morning mist, providing a useful landmark for the hikers.”
complex
“While the immediate effects of the policy were visible in the quarterly reports, the long-term social consequences remained obscured by a lack of longitudinal data.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “visible” in context.
Adjective
01. clearly visible
“The mountain peak was clearly visible from the hotel balcony on this sunny day.”
adv + adj
02. highly visible
“Cyclists should wear bright clothing to remain highly visible to drivers at night.”
adv + adj
03. visible light
04. visible wavelengths
05. visible signs
06. visible surface
Usage
Commonly modified by adverbs of degree such as 'clearly', 'barely', or 'highly'.
Real-World Examples
“Soon, the festival came into full view, with a lit-up ferris wheel, festival tents and Farage himself at about 3.30am, visible through a gated fence.” “She said that cloud cover scuppered the view for most of the time, but about 19:00 the clouds parted and a sliver of the sun was visible from behind the moon.” “Spain's SenForFire, for example, which measures gases released before flames become visible.” “As the crew neared their destination, with the Moon growing ever larger in their spacecraft's window, new features became visible on the lunar surface.” Etymology
From Middle English visible, from Old French visible, from Late Latin visibilis (“that may be seen”), from Latin videre (“to see”), past participle visus; see vision. Displaced native Old English ġesewenlīċ.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/visible