Quick answer: Notable means worthy of attention because it is remarkable, important, or distinguished: She is a notable figure in modern art. Noticeable means easily seen, perceived, or observed, regardless of importance: There was a noticeable change in his mood. A change can be noticeable without being notable, and something notable (like an achievement) is not always immediately noticeable. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘notable’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| notable | adjective | worthy of attention; remarkable, important, or distinguished | a notable achievement in her career |
| noticeable | adjective | easily seen or perceived; perceptible | a noticeable improvement in performance |
Using Notable
Notable describes something significant, remarkable, or worth mentioning — often used for achievements, people, or events of genuine importance.
He is a notable historian specialising in medieval Europe.
There were several notable exceptions to the general rule.
It was a notable victory for the underdog team.
The museum houses a notable collection of Roman artefacts.
Using Noticeable
Noticeable simply describes something that can easily be perceived by the senses, without necessarily being important or remarkable in a broader sense.
There was a noticeable drop in temperature overnight.
His limp became more noticeable as the day went on.
A noticeable smell of paint filled the corridor.
Her accent is barely noticeable after years abroad.
Memory Trick
NotABLE = worthy of note, like being "able" to make it into the history books. NoticeABLE = able to be noticed, simply perceivable by the senses — not necessarily important.
Common Mistakes
✗ There was a notable smell of gas in the kitchen.
✓ There was a noticeable smell of gas in the kitchen.
A smell is perceived by the senses (noticeable), not inherently "important" (notable).
✗ It was a noticeable achievement to win three championships in a row.
✓ It was a notable achievement to win three championships in a row.
Tips to Avoid Confusion
- Ask: is this important, remarkable, or worth recording? Use notable.
- Ask: is this simply easy to perceive with the senses? Use noticeable.
- A famous person is notable; a small stain on a shirt is noticeable.
- Something can be both notable and noticeable at once, but the two words test different qualities.
For more on related grammar, see word formation. Also confusing: Above vs Over, Already vs Yet, Appraise vs Apprise. Browse all confusing word pairs →
Quick Check: Notable or Noticeable?
4 fill-in-the-blank questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “She is a ___ author known for her historical novels.” (important)
2. “There was a ___ improvement in the water quality.” (visible)
3. “It was a ___ moment in the country's history.”
4. “His scar is barely ___ now.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between notable and noticeable?
Notable means worthy of attention because it is remarkable or important: "a notable achievement." Noticeable means easily seen or perceived, regardless of importance: "a noticeable change in temperature." Something can be noticeable without being notable, and vice versa.
Can something be noticeable but not notable?
Yes — for example, a small stain on a shirt is noticeable (easy to see) but not notable (not important or remarkable). Everyday, minor sensory details are usually noticeable rather than notable.
Can something be notable but not immediately noticeable?
Yes — a quiet, unassuming scientific breakthrough might be notable (historically important) without being noticeable at the time it happens, since its significance may only become clear later.
What kinds of things are usually described as notable?
People (notable authors, notable historians), achievements (a notable victory), exceptions (notable exceptions to a rule), and events (a notable turning point) are commonly described as notable, since the word implies significance or distinction.
What kinds of things are usually described as noticeable?
Sensory or measurable changes are usually described as noticeable: a noticeable smell, a noticeable accent, a noticeable improvement, a noticeable drop in temperature. The word focuses on perceptibility, not importance.
What is the noun form of notable?
The related noun is 'notability' (the state of being notable or worthy of attention), though it's less common in everyday speech than the adjective. You will also see 'a notable' used as a noun meaning a distinguished or important person.
What is the noun form of noticeable?
The noun is 'noticeability' (rare) — more commonly you would say something 'is easy to notice' or describe the 'noticeable nature' of a change, rather than using a dedicated noun.
Which word is more common in formal writing about achievements?
Notable is more common and appropriate in formal writing about achievements, milestones, or important figures, since it directly signals significance, whereas noticeable simply signals visibility or perceptibility.
Give a sentence using both words correctly.
"There was a noticeable increase in ticket sales after her notable performance at the festival." Here noticeable describes the perceptible rise in sales, while notable describes the significance of her performance.
How can I remember notable vs noticeable?
Notable relates to 'note' as in 'noteworthy' — think 'worth writing down in history'. Noticeable relates to 'notice' as in 'I noticed it' — think 'easy for the eye or ear to catch', with no judgement about importance.