take notes

Idioms

Also, make notes. Record one's observations or what one hears in order to help recall them later. For example, Jim never takes notes in class and I think he'll regret it, or The decorator made notes of window measurements and other dimensions. [Mid-1500s] Also see take note.

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.

Diplomatic sources involved in this process say he often didn't even take notes - which only heightened Iranian suspicion and meant the talks often went in circles.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Doctors are already using artificial intelligence to take notes while with patients—but are large language models ready to consult?

From Slate • Jan. 18, 2026

Every five minutes, he and his fellow researchers take notes, singling out one of the group's 10 adult males to follow each day.

From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026

It lets you take notes without taking out your phone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 8, 2025

They listen carefully, crane their necks to see, take notes while I blush.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023