notebook

American  

[noht-book] / ˈnoʊtˌbʊk /

noun

1. a book of notes.

   They checked the sergeant's notebook for clues to his whereabouts.

2. a book or binder of blank, often ruled, pages on which to write, especially one used by students to take notes in class.

3. a book in which promissory notes are entered, registered, recorded, etc.

4. Digital Technology. a small, lightweight laptop computer.

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notebook British  

/ ˈnəʊtˌbʊk /

noun

1. a book for recording notes or memoranda

2. a book for registering promissory notes

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Etymology

Origin of notebook

First recorded in 1570–80; note + book

Example Sentences

About 8,000 miles from the Middle East, where U.S. forces massed over the past month to prepare for war, Heather Griffith has been jotting a string of rising numbers into a notebook.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

"To cheer myself up, I write memories in my notebook every day. I keep the notebook in my closet, among my clothes, so that no one can access it," she said.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

"She looks in his notebook and says: 'You know, those are really interesting drawings. What are you doing here to be an English professor. You should be doing that for a living, not teaching English'."

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

The main houses showed several signs that young children had recently been present, including toys, clothes and notebook pages with the crude drawings of a grade-schooler.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

Marion pulls the small notebook from her skirt and clears her throat.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• binder
• diary
• journal
• pad