notice

[noh-tis]

noun

1. an announcement or intimation of something impending; warning.

   a day's notice.

2. a note, placard, or the like conveying information or a warning.

   to post a notice about the fire laws.

   Synonyms: poster, sign

3. information or warning of something, especially for wide attention.

   to give notice of one's departure.

   Synonyms: announcement, notification, news, advice

4. a notification of the termination, at a specified time, of an agreement, as for renting or employment, given by one of the parties to the agreement.

   The sales manager suddenly gave notice and headed for Acapulco.

5. observation, perception, attention, or heed.

   a book worthy of notice.

   Synonyms: cognizance, note

6. interested or favorable attention.

   to take notice of an unusual feature in the design of a building.

7. critical attention, appraisal, or evaluation.

   Only a few of the entries were singled out for notice.

   Synonyms: mention, comment

8. a brief written review or critique, as of a newly published book; review.

   The notices of the play were mostly favorable.

verb (used with object)

noticed, noticing 

1. to pay attention to or take notice of.

   Did you notice her hat?

   Synonyms: observe, heed, regard, see

2. to perceive; become aware of.

   Did you notice the anger in his voice?

   Synonyms: remark, mark, note, understand, recognize, discriminate, distinguish, descry

3. to acknowledge acquaintance with.

   She noticed him merely with a nod.

4. to mention or refer to; point out.

   a circumstance that was noticed in an earlier chapter.

5. to give notice to; serve with a notice.

   to notice a person that his taxes are overdue.

notice

/ ˈnəʊtɪs /

noun

1. the act of perceiving; observation; attention

   to escape notice

2. to pay attention; attend

3. to ignore or disregard

4. information about a future event; warning; announcement

5. a displayed placard or announcement giving information

6. advance notification of intention to end an arrangement, contract, etc, as of renting or employment (esp in the phrase give notice )

7. with notification only a little in advance

8. with notification only two hours in advance

9. dismissal from employment

10. favourable, interested, or polite attention

    she was beneath his notice

11. a theatrical or literary review

    the play received very good notices

verb

1. to become conscious or aware of; perceive; note

2. to point out or remark upon

3. to pay polite or interested attention to

4. to recognize or acknowledge (an acquaintance)

Other Word Forms

• noticer noun
• renotice verb (used with object)
• unnoticed adjective
• unnoticing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of notice¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin nōtitia “a knowing, a being known,” derivative of nōtus known ( notify )

Word History and Origins

Origin of notice¹

C15: via Old French from Latin notitia fame, from nōtus known, celebrated

Idioms and Phrases

see escape notice; give notice; short notice; sit up and take notice; take note (notice).

Synonym Study

Notice, discern, perceive imply becoming aware of, and paying attention to, something. To notice is to become aware of something that has caught one's attention: to notice a newspaper headline; to notice a road sign. Discern suggests distinguishing (sometimes with difficulty) and recognizing a thing for what it is, discriminating it from its surroundings: In spite of the fog, we finally discerned the outline of the harbor. Perceive, often used as a formal substitute for see or notice, may convey also the idea of understanding meanings and implications: After examining the evidence he perceived its significance.

Example Sentences

Growing up, Liv knew her granddad and multiple siblings had lost their lives early to dementia before she was born, and she was a teenager when she started noticing her mum's out-of-character behaviour.

From BBC

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued 13 notices of violations over the last 12 months, and 46 in the last five years.

From Los Angeles Times

Have you ever noticed that the Moon appears to be bigger when it is close to the horizon than when it is high in the sky?

From BBC

When Ms Belhassan went out she noticed that the police were trying to stop people gathering and were making arrests.

From BBC

Google notified the California Employment Development Department on Monday that it will lay off 50 workers in Sunnyvale, according to a notice obtained by The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• advertisement 
• advice 
• comment 
• criticism 
• directive 
• instruction 
• manifesto 
• memo 
• memorandum 
• news 
• note 
• notification 
• order 
• picture 
• poster 
• proclamation 
• review 
• story 
• warning