note
gb/nˈoʊt/ us/nˈoʊt/
A1
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Short written message
A short piece of writing to give or remember information.
Usage pattern:
write [a] note to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'note' (short message) with 'letter', which is typically longer and more formal.
Synonyms
message (Usually refers to any form of communication, not just short written ones.)
Antonyms
silence (Lack of communication or message.)
Collocations
leave a note
|write a note
|pass a note
|take a note
Themes
daily life
|communication
|education
Examples
- She left a note on the kitchen table for her roommate.
- I wrote a quick note to thank him for his help.
- Please pass this note to the teacher.
- He found a note in his locker.
- Can you leave me a note if you go out?
Learner examples
- I wrote a note to my friend.
- She left a note on the desk.
- He gave me a note.
- We got a note from the teacher.
- Please write me a note.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Musical tone or pitch
A single sound in music with a certain pitch.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'note' (musical sound) with 'chord', which is several notes played together.
Synonyms
tone (More general; can refer to sound quality, not only musical pitch.)
Antonyms
silence (Absence of sound or musical tone.)
Collocations
high note
|low note
|hit a note
|play a note
Themes
music
|arts
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She hit the wrong note during the performance.
- The song starts on a high note.
- He played the final note softly.
- Can you hold that note longer?
- The melody has only five notes.
Learner examples
- He sang a high note.
- The piano made a low note.
- I played three notes on the guitar.
- She missed the last note.
- We learned the notes in music class.
Verb
B1
action
3
Observe or point out
To see or say something important or worth remembering.
Usage pattern:
note that [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'note' (to observe/mention) with 'notice', which usually means just becoming aware of something without necessarily pointing it out.
Synonyms
remark (Often implies making a casual spoken comment rather than careful observation.)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately not notice or mention something.)
Collocations
note that
|should be noted
|important to note
Themes
communication
|observation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Please note that the meeting starts at 9 AM sharp.
- He noted her hesitation before answering.
- It should be noted that this law is new.
- I noted his name for future reference.
Learner examples
- Please note that we start at 8.
- He noted my mistake.
- Note that the shop closes early.
- She noted the time on her phone.
Noun
B2
entity
4
Document promising payment
A paper that says someone will pay money to another person later.
Synonyms
IOU (Informal term for a written acknowledgment of debt.)
Antonyms
receipt (Proof of payment rather than a promise to pay.)
Collocations
promissory note
|sign a note
|demand note
Themes
business
|finance
Examples
- He signed a promissory note for the loan.
- The bank holds the note until repayment.
- They issued a demand note for immediate payment.
Learner examples
- I signed a note to pay him later.
- The bank keeps the note until you pay.
- She gave me a note for $500.
Grammar
Dictionary form
note
IPA
GB/nˈoʊt/
US/nˈoʊt/
Syllables & stress
note (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (note)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: note
- Plural: note, notes
Verb
- Base: note
- 3rd Person Singular: notes
- Present Participle: noting
- Past: noted
Word family
Expressions
end on a high note
1/ˈɛnd ˈɔn ə hˈaɪ nˈoʊt/
idiom
Finish successfully or well
To finish something in a good or successful way.
Examples
- The concert ended on a high note with their most popular song.
- Let's end this meeting on a high note by celebrating our success.
hit the right note
1/hˈɪt ðə ɹˈaɪt nˈoʊt/
idiom
Act appropriately for situation
To do or say something in a way that is suitable and makes people feel good about it.
Examples
- Her speech really hit the right note with the audience.
- The manager hit the right note by thanking everyone personally.
make a note of
1/mˈeɪk ə nˈoʊt əv/
fixed phrase
Write down for later use
To write something down so you remember it later.
Examples
- Make a note of the time we arrived.
- I made a note of her phone number so I wouldn't forget.
on a side note
1/ˈɔn ə sˈaɪd nˈoʊt/
fixed phrase
Additional minor point
Used before saying something extra that is not the main topic.
Examples
- On a side note, did you hear about the new cafe?
- The meeting was productive. On a side note, lunch will be provided tomorrow.