Visible — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈvi-zə-bəl/ vis·i·ble

Meaning & Definition of Visible

Visible (adjective)

  1. capable of being seen
  2. situated in the region of the electromagnetic spectrum perceptible to human vision —used of radiation having a wavelength between about 400 nanometers and 700 nanometers
  3. exposed to view

Visible (noun)

  1. a visible person or thing, someone or something that can be seen or perceived

Visible (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. capable of being seen

    "the visible light spectrum runs from red to violet"

    similar: apparent, observable, seeable, visual
    related: viewable, detectable, discernible, noticeable, perceptible, clear, conspicuous, evident, eye-catching, manifest, obvious, overt, patent, perceivable, plain, prominent, striking, exposed, external, outer, outward, superficial
    opposite: invisible, sightless, viewless
    near: disappeared, dissolved, evanesced, evaporated, melted, vanished, vaporized, imperceptible, indiscernible, indistinct, unnoticeable, unobservable, faint, inconspicuous, insignificant, slight, unobtrusive, vague, buried, concealed, covert, disguised, hidden, latent, obscure, shrouded

  2. widely known

    "although he had been kicking around Hollywood for years, he only became a highly visible actor after his starring role in that year's biggest movie"

    similar: big-name, celebrated, famed, famous, noted, notorious, prominent, renowned, star, well-known
    related: fabled, fabulous, legendary, infamous, distinguished, eminent, exceptional, great, illustrious, leading, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, preeminent, prestigious, remarkable, supereminent, superior, important, significant, acknowledged, recognized, respected, favorite, popular, preferred, estimable, honorable, reputable, respectable, formidable, redoubtable
    opposite: anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unfamous, unknown, unsung
    near: insignificant, unimportant, inconspicuous, undistinguished, unexceptional, unpopular

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Visible

The most common words with a similar meaning to Visible:

apparent, observable, seeable, visual, big-name, celebrated, famed, famous, noted, notorious, prominent, renowned, star, well-known

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Visible

Words with the opposite meaning of Visible:

invisible, sightless, viewless, anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unfamous, unknown, unsung

Related Words for Visible

viewable, detectable, discernible, noticeable, perceptible, clear, conspicuous, evident, eye-catching, manifest, obvious, overt, patent, perceivable, plain, striking, exposed, external, outer, outward, superficial, fabled, fabulous, legendary, infamous, distinguished, eminent, exceptional, great, illustrious

Near Antonyms of Visible

disappeared, dissolved, evanesced, evaporated, melted, vanished, vaporized, imperceptible, indiscernible, indistinct, unnoticeable, unobservable, faint, inconspicuous, insignificant, slight, unobtrusive, vague, buried, concealed, covert, disguised, hidden, latent, shrouded, unimportant, undistinguished, unexceptional, unpopular

Word Forms of Visible

Inflections: visibles

Derived words: visibleness (noun), visibly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Visible

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin visibilis, from visus, past participle of vidēre to see

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Visible

Words & Phrases Containing Visible

visible speech, visible means of support, visible to the naked eye, subvisible

Frequently Asked Questions about Visible

What does "Visible" mean?

"Visible" means capable of being seen. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: capable of being seen. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Visible"?

Other words for "Visible" include apparent, observable, seeable, visual, big-name, celebrated, famed and famous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Visible" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Visible"?

There are 67 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Visible". Common alternatives include apparent, observable, seeable, visual, big-name, celebrated, famed, famous, noted and notorious.

What is the opposite of "Visible"?

Antonyms of "Visible" include invisible, sightless, viewless, anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated and unfamous. Near antonyms include disappeared, dissolved, evanesced and evaporated.

How do you use "Visible" in a sentence?

Examples of "Visible" in a sentence: "the visible light spectrum runs from red to violet"; "although he had been kicking around Hollywood for years, he only became a highly visible actor after his starring role in that year's biggest movie".

Is "Visible" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Visible" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Visible" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Visible" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Visible"?

"Visible" is pronounced /ˈvi-zə-bəl/ and divided into syllables as vis·i·ble.