perceptibly

Everyday

In a way that can be noticed or seen, even if only a little: "It grew perceptibly colder." tree →

In the lessons

In formal writing, science reports and stories, "perceptibly" describes a change you can just notice. Its opposite "imperceptibly" means so slowly or slightly that you cannot notice it. Often with change words: perceptibly colder, perceptibly louder, perceptibly faster.

Examples

• It grew perceptibly darker as the clouds came. tree →
• Her voice shook perceptibly. tree →
• The plant had grown perceptibly in one week. tree →
• He relaxed perceptibly when the test was over. tree →
• The water level rose perceptibly during the storm. tree →
• The train slowed perceptibly before the station. tree →

Note

Formal adverb. From "perceptible" (able to be noticed) and "perceive" (to notice). Opposite: imperceptibly. In science, a perceptible change is one you can measure or see.