Visible Meaning
/ˈvɪzɪb(ə)l/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjAble to be seen.
Sentence Examples
Numerous stars were visible in the sky.
There were a lot of stars visible in the sky.
The house is clearly visible from the beach.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Through the telescope, the planet was ____, not hidden.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The small distant stars were clearly ____ in the dark night sky because there was no light pollution nearby today.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It cannot be denied it [the chameleon] is (if not the moſt of any) a very abſtemious animall, and ſuch as by reaſon of its frigidity, paucity of bloud, and latitancy in the winter (about which time the obſervations are often made) will long ſubſist without a viſible ſuſtentation."
— 1650, Thomas Browne, “Of the Cameleon”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 3rd book, page 133:
"Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited."
— 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
"Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close[…]above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them. Many insects probably use this strategy, which is a close analogy to crypsis in the visible world—camouflage and other methods for blending into one’s visual background."
— 2013 May-June, William E. Conner, “An Acoustic Arms Race”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, pages 206–7:
"Participants perceived strength training as improving many aspects of their physical and mental health. Many appreciated the visible improvements in muscular strength and body composition."
— 2025 August 20, Ashlyn Barry, Justin A. Haegele, Daniel Schaefer, Kristen A. Pickett, Luis Columna, “Autistic Young Adults’ Experiences and Recommendations for Strength Training”, in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, →DOI:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Through the telescope, the planet was ____, not hidden.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The small distant stars were clearly ____ in the dark night sky because there was no light pollution nearby today.