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

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

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

When he joined the back of the line, he said, the note could purchase two loaves of bread; by the time he got to the front, it bought him half a loaf.

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026

Van, however, ended the fight on a high note.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026

“We simply don’t know how to model the endgame,” Natasha Kaneva, head of the company’s global commodities strategy, said in a note.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

In JP Morgan's note, analysts said it estimated the "fair value" for oil in September would be around $90 a barrel, despite it trading above $100.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

A handwritten note surreptitiously passed to me in the street; a meeting with a child; a walk through the city; a heart filled with the knowledge that I have helped to save another person’s life.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

The 2025 study also notes the cost and lack of residual protection as important disadvantages of whole structure fumigation.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

She notes their recent partnership with Stormzy's stylist Melissa Holbrook-Akposoe, who goes by Melissa's Wardrobe on social media, as "adding credibility" for younger shoppers.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Godrich notes proudly that “the way the record was made was completely mechanical,” meaning nothing was programmed on a computer but instead recorded “live on the fly” using older equipment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

Japan’s 11th army lost many of its veteran soldiers and weapons, Ms. Fox notes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

She wanted to get it organized and cleared off for me at first but kept getting sidetracked by missing invoices from Birdie’s or notes she’d left herself.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

He also noted he doesn’t use much AI himself.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

The passenger’s full route can be found here, though officials noted the departure and arrival times are estimates, as they reflect train and bus schedules.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

Haser noted in his EGU 26 paper that current estimates point to a porous interior, possible water ice, and a denser concentration of material near Phobos' equatorial region.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

Numerous AI employees the BBC spoke with noted that they had yet to learn of any such safety researchers being embedded in an AI lab.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

Dasch showed him around the estate and noted that he had the look of a haunted man.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Bourdeaux said she’s not expecting much on that front, noting the Trump administration has failed to put out a traditional budget proposal with detailed projections.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 20, 2026

Karl talks about the "kindness of strangers", noting how one family in Chile became "almost like a second family".

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

Pantoja said Van has changed since December, highlighting the fight against Taira and noting the champion has refined aspects of his fighting style.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

Newly appointed central-bank Gov. Destry Damayanti is likely to highlight tighter global financial conditions and geopolitical tensions as key risks on the horizon, while noting that the domestic economy remains relatively resilient, DBS economists said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

“I’m all sweaty from being in the kitchen,” I said, noting how drenched my shirt was, and I sniffed it.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

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