notice
Americannoun
-
notices
plural
-
an announcement or intimation of something impending; warning.
a day's notice.
-
a note, placard, or the like conveying information or a warning.
to post a notice about the fire laws.
-
information or warning of something, especially for wide attention.
to give notice of one's departure.
- Synonyms:
- announcement, notification, news, advice
-
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.
-
observation, perception, attention, or heed.
a book worthy of notice.
- Synonyms:
- cognizance, note
-
interested or favorable attention.
to take notice of an unusual feature in the design of a building.
-
critical attention, appraisal, or evaluation.
Only a few of the entries were singled out for notice.
-
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)
-
notices,
present (3rd person singular)
-
noticed,
past participle, past
-
noticing
present participle
-
to pay attention to or take notice of.
Did you notice her hat?
-
to perceive; become aware of.
Did you notice the anger in his voice?
- Synonyms:
- remark, mark, note, understand, recognize, discriminate, distinguish, descry
-
to acknowledge acquaintance with.
She noticed him merely with a nod.
-
to mention or refer to; point out.
a circumstance that was noticed in an earlier chapter.
-
to give notice to; serve with a notice.
to notice a person that his taxes are overdue.
noun
-
the act of perceiving; observation; attention
to escape notice
-
to pay attention; attend
-
to ignore or disregard
-
information about a future event; warning; announcement
-
a displayed placard or announcement giving information
-
advance notification of intention to end an arrangement, contract, etc, as of renting or employment (esp in the phrase give notice )
-
with notification only a little in advance
-
with notification only two hours in advance
-
dismissal from employment
-
favourable, interested, or polite attention
she was beneath his notice
-
a theatrical or literary review
the play received very good notices
verb
-
to become conscious or aware of; perceive; note
-
to point out or remark upon
-
to pay polite or interested attention to
-
to recognize or acknowledge (an acquaintance)
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
noticesimple
-
noticessimple
-
have noticedperfect
-
has noticedperfect
-
am noticingprogressive
-
are noticingprogressive
-
is noticingprogressive
-
have been noticingperfect progressive
-
has been noticingperfect progressive
Past
-
noticedsimple
-
had noticedperfect
-
was noticingprogressive
-
were noticingprogressive
-
had been noticingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of notice
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin nōtitia “a knowing, a being known,” derivative of nōtus known ( see notify)
Explanation
The word notice has to do with paying attention to something. For example, you usually notice a flashing light, and an overdue bill might come with the word "NOTICE" written on it to make sure you see it. The Latin nōtitia, a noun meaning "something known," was the ancestor of notice. Use the verb to mean “to see or point out" and the noun to mean "formal warning." When you give “advance notice,” you let someone know early or ahead of time. In case you haven't noticed, the notice posted on your door says you've been promoted and should move to the corner office. No doubt because of your attention to detail.
Vocabulary lists containing notice
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "N"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Challenge"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Pilots issue “general emergency” notice, indicating that they are fully in control and able to communicate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
In July, OnPoint Logistics LLC filed a notice to close its San Francisco operation effective Sept. 7, eliminating 96 roles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
In a sport that heavily encourages everyone watching to follow the narrative, it’s hard not to notice a pattern.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
That would make it hard to replace the specialists on short notice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Once she does notice, it changes something in her posture, and she chooses her next words carefully.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Police say they are planning to request red notices from Interpol for the four men.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
So, why not slather on another coat of bull and hope no one notices?
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
Insurers sent notices asking them to confirm their eligibility before the feds canceled coverage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Importantly, these changes may begin years before a person notices any cardiovascular symptoms, allowing the damage to build silently over time.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026
Then he notices that there is a girl standing some paces away, also sheltered beneath the awning, and she is poring over the pages of a notebook that he is quite certain is his own.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Yet another responded that “I’m very sensitive to scents and never noticed this.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
Mark, 45, from Lincolnshire, says his shiny new electric vehicle has been "wonderful" to drive - but he quickly noticed that his nine-year-old daughter's motion sickness got much worse in it.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
On the night he met his wife, the first thing he noticed about the woman he would marry was her footwear.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
He was finishing “That ‘70s Show” in 2006, when he noticed that Chuck Norris was selling his house in Tarzana.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
We’d noticed he didn’t bring a packed dinner in a bucket.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
He toyed with the idea of becoming a veterinarian, but after noticing that winemakers seemed a lot happier than vets, he decided to study winemaking instead.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
"People are noticing those big swarms again. They can celebrate what I think is one of nature's great spectacles."
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
He said mushroom spotting can transform an ordinary walk into an adventure, revealing colourful and unusual species that many people pass by without noticing.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
Once you notice this particular habit of the show, it becomes difficult to stop noticing it.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
As I get up, I can’t help noticing that most of the class have turned round to see what happened.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
