Notice (verb): to become aware of something through your senses or attention — to see, hear, or observe something, sometimes unexpectedly.
Notice (noun): a written or printed announcement displayed publicly; also, advance warning given before leaving a job or ending an agreement.
What Does Notice Mean?
Notice is one of English's most versatile words. As a verb, it describes the moment when something enters your awareness — whether you are actively looking for it or whether it simply catches your eye. The example sentence "Did you notice the spelling mistake in the second paragraph?" shows this perfectly: the speaker is asking whether the listener's attention was drawn to something specific.
As a noun, notice covers three distinct ideas. A notice can be a physical sign or announcement posted on a board or wall ("a notice about the fire drill"). It can refer to formal advance warning — particularly in employment contexts ("She handed in her notice last Friday"). It can also describe the general concept of attention or awareness ("The change passed without notice").
Understanding which sense is intended usually depends on whether notice is preceded by an article or a possessive. Compare: "I notice a pattern here" (verb) versus "There is a notice on the door" (countable noun) versus "She left without notice" (uncountable noun meaning warning).
Etymology: From Latin notitia (knowledge, acquaintance), derived from notus — past participle of noscere (to know). Entered English via Old French notice in the late 15th century, initially meaning knowledge or information. The verbal sense "to observe" developed in the mid-18th century. The same root gives us notion, notorious, notify, and cognition.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| Did you notice the spelling mistake in the second paragraph? | A2 — verb, direct object |
| There is a notice on the staffroom door about the new timetable. | B1 — countable noun, announcement |
| He noticed that the lights had been left on all night. | B1 — verb + that-clause |
| She handed in her notice after ten years with the company, citing a lack of career progression. | B2 — uncountable noun, workplace resignation |
| The government's subtle shift in policy went largely unnoticed by the mainstream press. | C1 — passive adjective 'unnoticed', formal register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| hand in your notice | She handed in her notice on Monday morning. |
| give notice | The landlord must give at least two months' notice. |
| at short notice | The meeting was arranged at very short notice. |
| until further notice | The office will be closed until further notice. |
| take notice (of) | Nobody seemed to take notice of the warning signs. |
| escape notice | A small error in the report escaped the editor's notice. |
| notice board | The schedule is pinned to the notice board in the corridor. |
| without notice | Staff cannot be dismissed without notice. |
| advance notice | Please give us advance notice if you cannot attend. |
| notice period | His contract specifies a three-month notice period. |
Usage Notes
Key patterns for the verb "notice"
- notice + noun phrase: I noticed a crack in the ceiling.
- notice + that-clause: She noticed that the door was unlocked.
- notice + object + bare infinitive: Did you notice him leave? (completed action)
- notice + object + -ing: I noticed her standing by the window. (action in progress)
- Notice is not normally used in continuous tenses: say "I notice a change" not "I am noticing a change" in most contexts.
- In formal British English, notice as a noun in the employment context is uncountable: "to give notice", "to hand in one's notice", "a month's notice".
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I am noticing that the temperature has dropped.
I notice that the temperature has dropped. (stative sense; avoid continuous)
He noticed to see the mistake immediately.
He noticed the mistake immediately. (notice is not followed by a to-infinitive as object)
She gave her notice to the employer yesterday for one month.
She gave one month's notice to her employer yesterday. (notice period precedes the noun)