note

American  

[noht] / noʊt /

noun

• notes
  plural

1. 

   a brief record of something written down to assist the memory or for future reference.

   Synonyms:

   minute, memorandum

2. notes, a record or outline of a speech, statement, testimony, etc., or of one's impressions of something.

3. an explanatory or critical comment, or a reference to some authority quoted, appended to a passage in a book or the like.

   a note on the origin of the phrase.

   Synonyms:

   annotation, commentary

4. a brief written or printed statement giving particulars or information.

5. Library Science. additional information about a work, such as its special series or some other significant identification, included on the library catalog entry.

6. a short, informal letter.

   a thank-you note.

7. a formal diplomatic or official communication in writing.

   a note delivered by the ambassador.

8. a paper acknowledging a debt and promising payment; promissory note.

9. a certificate, as of a government or a bank, accepted as money.

   Synonyms:

   bill

10. eminence, distinction, or reputation.

    a man of note.

    Synonyms:

    name, renown, fame, celebrity, repute

11. importance or consequence.

    few events of particular note.

12. notice, observation, or heed.

    to take note of warning signs; to be worthy of note.

13. a characteristic or distinguishing feature.

    a note of whimsy in the design of the house.

14. a mark, quality, or indication of something, especially as a submerged but ubiquitous element.

    There was just a note of bitterness in his films.

15. a characteristic way of speaking or thinking.

    His critics had begun to change their note.

16. a signal, announcement, or intimation.

    a note of warning in her voice.

17. Music.

    1. a sign or character used to represent a tone, its position and form indicating the pitch and duration of the tone.

    2. a key, as of a piano.

18. a tone sounded on a musical instrument.

19. a musical sound or tone.

20. a melody, tune, or song.

21. a sound of musical quality, as one uttered by a bird.

    attentive to the thrush's note.

22. any call, cry, or sound of a bird, fowl, etc.

23. a new or unexpected element in a situation.

24. a mark or sign, as of punctuation, used in writing or printing.

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verb (used with object)

• notes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• noted,
  past participle,  past
• noting
  present participle

1. to write or mark down briefly; make a memorandum of.

   to note the places of interest.

   Synonyms:

   record, register

2. to make particular mention of in a writing.

   She noted their extra efforts in her report.

3. to annotate.

4. to observe carefully; give attention or heed to.

   Note the fine brushwork in this painting.

5. to take notice of; perceive.

   We noted his concern at the announcement.

   Synonyms:

   remark, spot, see

6. to set down in or furnish with musical notes.

7. to indicate or designate; signify; denote.

   Synonyms:

   mention

idioms

1. compare notes, to exchange views, ideas, or impressions.

   The returning tourists were sitting on the sun deck comparing notes.

note British  

/ nəʊt /

noun

1. a brief summary or record in writing, esp a jotting for future reference

2. a brief letter, usually of an informal nature

3. a formal written communication, esp from one government to another

4. a short written statement giving any kind of information

5. a critical comment, explanatory statement, or reference in the text of a book, often preceded by a number

6. short for banknote

7. a characteristic element or atmosphere

   a note of sarcasm

8. a distinctive vocal sound, as of a species of bird or animal

   the note of the nightingale

9. any of a series of graphic signs representing a musical sound whose pitch is indicated by position on the stave and whose duration is indicated by the sign's shape

10. Also called (esp US and Canadian): tone. a musical sound of definite fundamental frequency or pitch

11. a key on a piano, organ, etc

12. a sound, as from a musical instrument, used as a signal or warning

    the note to retreat was sounded

13. short for promissory note

14. archaic a tune or melody

15. 1. distinguished or famous

       an athlete of note

    2. worth noticing or paying attention to; important

       nothing of note

16. to behave appropriately

17. to behave inappropriately

18. (often foll by of) to observe carefully; pay close attention (to)

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verb

1. to notice; perceive

   he noted that there was a man in the shadows

2. to pay close attention to; observe

   they noted every movement

3. to make a written note or memorandum of

   she noted the date in her diary

4. to make particular mention of; remark upon

   I note that you do not wear shoes

5. to write down (music, a melody, etc) in notes

6. to take (an unpaid or dishonoured bill of exchange) to a notary public to re-present the bill and if it is still unaccepted or unpaid to note the circumstances in a register See protest

7. a less common word for annotate

note More Idioms  

1. see bread and butter letter (note); compare notes; make a note of; of note; strike the right note; take note; take notes.

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Synonym Usage

See remark.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noter
  noun
• prenote
  noun
• subnote
  noun
• undernote
  noun
• noteless
  adjective
• unnoting
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• notes
  plural

Participles

• noting
  present
• noted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• note
  simple
• notes
  simple
• have noted
  perfect
• has noted
  perfect
• am noting
  progressive
• are noting
  progressive
• is noting
  progressive
• have been noting
  perfect progressive
• has been noting
  perfect progressive

Past

• noted
  simple
• had noted
  perfect
• was noting
  progressive
• were noting
  progressive
• had been noting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will note
  simple
• will have noted
  perfect
• will be noting
  progressive
• will have been noting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of note

First recorded in 1175–1225; (for the noun) Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin nota “sign for musical tone,” in Latin: “mark, sign, lettering”; verb derivative of the noun

Explanation

A note is a very short piece of writing. You might write a note to your sister on the back of your grocery list, or jot down a quick note reminding yourself to call your grandmother later. You might slip a love note under a door, or leave your cat sitter a note explaining how much to feed Fluffy. Other notes are taken during lectures or written in notebooks by journalists during interviews. You can also make a mental note, paying particular attention to something in the hopes that you'll remember it later. The Old French noter, "indicate or write down," comes from the Latin root notare, "to mark or note," from nota, "mark."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

note notes noted noting

"I couldn't believe that note had been there longer than I've been alive."

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

Like the 10-year note, the 30-year bond is also flashing overbought conditions on the RSI, with a reading of 72.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 27, 2026

Seventy percent of likely voters said they had no opinion of either McKinney or Roy — a fairly typical result for a down-ballot race, experts note.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

The designers said in a note they wanted to "open the wardrobes of the great Sicilian families" and create a dialogue between "the precious and the everyday".

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

The office secretary announced our bus over the PA and I got Mrs. Tracy’s note and quickly followed everybody out.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

Players were so appreciative of Doncic’s hosting efforts that they all presented him with handwritten thank-you notes after, Pelinka said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

"Nostalgia can be built upon something people didn't even experience personally at the time," notes Um.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

Barbera d'Asti, "traditionally dominated by notes of cherry and plum, is increasingly evolving toward more concentrated aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant", Garberoglio said after a tasting.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

I was jotting down my own notes from the papers when I heard the sound of marching feet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

It seemed easier to run my fingers up and down the keys following the rise and fall of the notes on the page.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

“An uptick in the unemployment rate for workers with doctorate degrees may be tied to an oversupply of PhD graduates and a limited number of tenure-track professorships within institutions of higher education,” the report noted.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

Today is not like 2022, when the Fed was battling surging inflation with an aggressive rate-hiking cycle, Kourkafas noted.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 26, 2026

Corless noted that Dolan had to develop a Galway accent for the role, which she said the actress did "very well".

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Out of that reverence for the group’s music, Peña noted that all the Smiths covers will be performed only in English.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

As Cherrie happily noted in his diary later that night, “Our work as explorers of an unknown river is of course finished!”

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

Footfall also takes a hit, he said, noting that a stormy season has once again descended and fearful customers are canceling their reservations.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

The Bernstein team currently models a 46.2% gross margin for the company as a whole in the December quarter, while noting the consensus view is for a 46.7% margin.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

The shooting could have been avoided if “the officers were trained differently or better,” Bass said, noting that one of the officers had been on the job for roughly five months.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

“He didn’t need to tackle this head on,” he says, noting that most people will treat the book for what it is: a tribute from a devastated brother to a lost sister.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

And Toby, noting my preference, has kept me in chocolate cake ever since.

From "Bunnicula" by Deborah Howe and James Howe

Related Words

• indicate
• mention
• notice
• remark
• see
• view
• write