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

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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

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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

Included in his missives were photos of incredible vintage fashion pieces that had been consigned to the RealReal, along with a note of archival context like the classically-trained art historian that Nick is.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2026

“I did leave the note, but that was staged.”

From Slate ● Nov. 12, 2026

Stacy Rasgon, senior analyst in US semiconductors at Bernstein Research, wrote in a note to investors that "our gut tells us we probably haven't fully probed the depths of what might be found here".

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026

All three main indexes on Wall Street ended on another strong note Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026

When I hit the final note, she wasn’t smiling.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

"Other simulations cannot zoom in as far as this," Vogelsberger notes.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 12, 2026

One — with notes of rum, bergamot and Ambergris, is called Monkey Special, named after his 1964 Gibson SG guitar.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026

The report also notes a 740 percent increase in forced displacement between 2017 and 2025.

From Barron's ● Nov. 11, 2026

For example, as the New York Times notes, Sen. Ted Cruz has, for a long time, “made the death penalty his cause.”

From Slate ● Nov. 11, 2026

He shakes his head and bites his bottom lip, rereading his notes on the drafting paper for the dozenth time, not realizing I’m still looking at him.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Analysts at Bernstein argued that Burberry’s performance in China seemed particularly reassuring, while RBC Capital Markets noted that some of the group’s peers in the industry have struggled to meet consensus expectations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

Others noted that they couldn’t charge at home, which is generally a deal-killer for EV ownership, since costs go up while convenience plummets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

Obudswoman Iris Marin noted that De la Espriella did not attend Wednesday's event.

From Barron's ● Nov. 11, 2026

However, they noted that sports cards were a “volatile asset class,” with peak-to-trough swings of as much as 50%.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2026

Nigro noted with proud amusement that his protégé was watching carefully and absorbing everything he could.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Harry and Markle were rumored to have been house hunting, with several reports noting that the former actress was even looking to replicate the luxury they had in their Montecito mansion.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 12, 2026

Conservation efforts at Angkor have become international since independence in 1953, with signs noting contributions to various projects from Japan, South Korea, India and China.

From Barron's ● Nov. 10, 2026

Bessent was outspoken about the yen’s sharp slide during the summer, expressing support for Tokyo’s steps to counter the currency’s undervaluation and noting its role in driving up domestic inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

Asked if the election results would affect ICE activity, Mayberry did not anticipate any immediate change, noting that ICE has already increased enforcement and expanded the number of detainees, currently around 69,000.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026

Ms. Wyman asks, noting that I am the only one standing.

From "The Misfits" by James Howe

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Related Words

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

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