Perceivable means capable of being noticed or detected by your senses: something you can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell. If a sound is so quiet that nobody can hear it, it's not perceivable. But once it gets loud enough for even one person to detect it, it becomes perceivable.

Scientists use this word when they talk about whether something can be measured or observed. A perceivable difference between two things means you can actually tell them apart through your senses. If you add one grain of salt to a pot of soup, the change in taste probably isn't perceivable. But add a whole tablespoon and everyone will notice.

The word connects to perception, which is how we take in information through our senses. When something crosses the threshold from invisible, silent, or otherwise undetectable to something at least one person can sense, it becomes perceivable. A star might be so far away that it's not perceivable to the naked eye, but a telescope makes it perceivable. The key is whether it can be sensed, not whether everyone notices it right away.