sen ‧ si ‧ ble S3 W3 /ˈsensəb ə l, ˈsensɪb ə l/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ sensible , ↑ insensible , ↑ senseless , ↑ sensitive ≠ ↑ insensitive , ↑ sensory , ↑ nonsensical , ↑ insensate ; noun : ↑ sense ≠ ↑ nonsense , ↑ sensibility ≠ ↑ insensibility , ↑ sensitivity ≠ ↑ insensitivity , ↑ senselessness , ↑ sensitization , ↑ sensor ; adverb : ↑ sensibly , ↑ senselessly , ↑ sensitively ≠ ↑ insensitively ; verb : ↑ sense , ↑ sensitize ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin sensibilis , from sensus ; ⇨ ↑ sense 1 ]
1 . reasonable, practical, and showing good judgement:
She seems very sensible.
sensible advice
It’s sensible to keep a note of your passport number.
Moving house seemed like the sensible thing to do.
► A sensible person is reasonable and shows good judgement. A sensitive person is easily upset, or understands other people’s feelings and problems.
2 . suitable for a particular purpose, and practical rather than fashionable:
Eat a sensible diet and exercise daily.
an old woman in sensible shoes and a neat skirt
3 . formal noticeable:
a sensible increase in temperature
4 . be sensible of something literary to know or realize that something exists or is true SYN aware :
He was very sensible of the difficult situation she was in.
—sensibly adverb