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 have received many fan letters over the years that note my fiction can read like nonfiction.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

Not only is the number of M&A deals increasing, but the deals’ value is also surging, the research note observes.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

This was “merely a continuation of the trend toward lower inflation, partly distorted by one-off effects” and the dollar’s falls proved short-lived, Commerzbank’s Michael Pfister said in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

The findings were reported by Bank of America’s global rates and currencies team led by Adarsh Sinha in a note published Thursday.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

“And the voice—did you take better note of the voice this time?”

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

CoreWeave bonds also rallied Wednesday, with the company’s 9% notes due in 2031 jumping nearly 3 cents on the dollar to 94.141, according to MarketAxess.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

In a Vanity Fair profile a few years ago, the reporter notes disapprovingly when Goodman eats a corned-beef sandwich and cole slaw, asking “Aren’t we supposed to be on a diet?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

There are currently simpler ways for intelligence agencies or cybercriminals to monitor people, Felix Morsbach notes.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

Hong notes sales surpassed 5 million in the first month after its release in March but dropped sharply in 2Q.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

“In that case, I’ll stay in and study. But if you change your mind, I can abandon my notes, okay?”

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Manager Dave Roberts described Freeman’s status as “day to day” and noted that he’d already planned to give him a day off Friday, the second game of a four-game series against the Brewers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

She noted that she and Cascardo had already made plans to quit California, but explained that they’d originally set their sights on setting up home in Portland, before pivoting to the East Coast.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

In an interview with AFP, she noted that few adult male elephants had died, even though they are the ones most likely to raid crops.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

Thomson said some young people felt lonely and noted "we don't talk to each other as much as we used to."

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Dasch showed him around the estate and noted that he had the look of a haunted man.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

“This is an elaborate, well thought-out ruse which totally jammed my radar,” Taylor wrote, noting the caller’s attention to detail, including “real cop-speak.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

"Farage's plan to turn this by-election into a serious political battle failed," Queen Mary University of London politics professor Stijn van Kessel told AFP, noting the resulting spectacle "makes Farage look rather silly".

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

"Move over, sunshine" says the Independent, noting that the eclipse brought a "moment of shade" to the ongoing heatwave.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

He noted that the company’s earnings materials “debunked” investors’ medium- to long-term concerns around the company’s co-packaged and near-packaged optics products, noting that CPO production “remains on track.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026

I was noting these things and enjoying them as a child might, when it entered my mind as it had never done before:—

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

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