sensible — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Acting with or showing good sense; able to make good judgements based on reason or wisdom, or reflecting such ability.

   Synonyms

   reasonable

   Examples

   They ask questions of someone who thinks he's got something sensible to say on some matter when actually he hasn't.

2. Characterized more by usefulness, practicality, or comfort than by attractiveness, formality, or fashionableness, especially of clothing.

   Examples

   I only wear high heels on formal occasions; otherwise, I prefer sensible shoes.

   More examples (2)

   “Delightful vision! A comfortable armchair, situated in three different draughts, at every ballroom; and nice, large, sensible shoes for all the couples to stumble over as they go into the veranda!”

   She was a pleasant-looking woman of about forty, with a deep voice, almost manly in its stentorian tones, and had a large sensible square body, with feet to match—these last encased in good thick boots.

   Settle down, raise a family, join the PTA Buy some sensible shoes and a Chevrolet

   More examples (1)

   1999, Neil Gaiman, Stardust (2001 Perennial Edition), page 8, They would walk, on fair evenings, around the village, and discuss the theory of crop rotation, and the weather, and other such sensible matters.

3. Able to be sensed by the senses or the psyche; able to be perceived.

   Usage

   • especially
   • Formal

   Synonyms

   perceptibleappreciabledetectable

   Antonyms

   insensibleimperceptibleunappreciableundetectable

   Examples

   For Plato the belief in sensible objects is fallible.

   Air is sensible to the Touch by its Motion, and by its Resistance to Bodies moved in it.

   More examples (4)

   The sensible qualities of argentina promise no great virtue of this kind; for to the taste it discovers only a slight roughishness, from whence it may be presumed to be entitled to a place only among the milder corroborants.

   It has been vouchsafed, for example, to very few Christian believers to have had a sensible vision of their Saviour.

   [T]he diſgrace was more ſensible than the pain.

   The discovery of the mines of America […] does not seem to have had any very sensible effect upon the prices of things in England.

4. Able to feel or perceive.

   Usage

   • Archaic

   Examples

   Would your cambric were sensible as your finger.

5. Liable to external impression; easily affected; sensitive.

   Usage

   • Archaic

   Examples

   a sensible thermometer

   with affection wondrous sensible

6. Of or pertaining to the senses; sensory.

   Usage

   • Archaic

7. Cognizant; having the perception of something; aware of something.

   Usage

   • Archaic

   Examples

   He cannot think at any time, waking or sleeping, without being sensible of it.

   A bright Meſſenger from Heaven, made the Man of GOD ſenſible, That a Remarkable Safety ſhould be granted unto him, and therefore unto all the Company vvith Him.

   More examples (2)

   Diſingaging myſelf then from his embrace, I made him ſenſible of the reaſons there vvere for his preſent leaving me; on vvhich, tho' reluctantly, he put on his cloaths vvith as little expedition, hovvever, as he could help, vvantonly interrupting himſelf betvveen vvhiles, vvith kiſſes, touches, and embraces, I could not refuſe myſelf to; […]

   we are now sensible that it would have been absurd

Noun

1. Sensation; sensibility.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   Our temper changed […] which must needs remove the sensible of pain.

2. That which impresses itself on the senses; anything perceptible.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   Aristotle distinguished sensibles into common and proper.

   More examples (1)

   Accordingly, with respect to their knowability or opinability, Socrates makes no distinction among the sensibles between natural things and artifacts (510a5–6); both are relegated to the realm of opinion. Hence, there is no Socratic-Platonic biology.

3. That which has sensibility; a sensitive being.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   This melancholy extends itself not to men only, but even to vegetals and sensibles.

Adjective

1. showing reason or sound judgment

   Synonyms

   reasonable

   Examples

   a sensible choice

   a sensible person

2. able to feel or perceive

   Synonyms

   sensitive

   Antonyms

   insensible

   Examples

   even amoeba are sensible creatures

   the more sensible parts of the skin

3. readily perceived by the senses

   Examples

   the sensible universe

   a sensible odor

4. aware intuitively or intellectually of something sensed

   Examples

   made sensible of his mistakes