Cool MateAttention vs Notice
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Attention
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Notice
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
| Attention | Notice | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈtenʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈtenʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊtɪs/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪst/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊtɪs/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪst/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | The act of noticing something or focusing on it. | to see or pay attention to something |
| Example | The teacher asked for everyone's attention before starting the lesson. | I didn't notice the time passing while I was reading. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | full, rapt, undivided, devote, direct, give (somebody/something), focus, shift, turn, span, for somebody’s attention, attention to detail, care and attention, the centre/center of attention, constant, individual, personal, devote, give, lavish, full, rapt, undivided, devote, direct, give (somebody/something), focus, shift, turn, span, for somebody’s attention, attention to detail, care and attention, the centre/center of attention | not even, not really, barely, fail to, not appear to, not seem to, can’t help but notice something, can’t help noticing something, the first thing I, he, etc. noticed, not even, not really, barely, fail to, not appear to, not seem to, can’t help but notice something, can’t help noticing something, the first thing I, he, etc. noticed |
| Antonyms | disregard, indifference, neglect | ignore, overlook |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'attentive' — remember 'attention' is the noun., Using it in slang contexts — primarily neutral or formal., Incorrectly stating 'pay attention to' without the 'to' | 'Notice' is sometimes confused with 'notify' — 'to notify' means to inform someone., Learners may use 'noticing' incorrectly as a noun; the correct noun is 'notice'., Some learners forget to use 'notice' in the simple past form 'noticed' when talking about past events. |
| Usage notes | Use 'attention' in contexts where focus or awareness is required. Avoid in casual settings when referring to trivial matters. | Use 'notice' when you become aware of something. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English, but more formal contexts might use 'observe' instead. |
Frequently asked questions: Attention vs Notice
What's the difference between Attention and Notice?
Attention: The act of noticing something or focusing on it. Notice: to see or pay attention to something
Are Attention and Notice the same CEFR level?
Attention: A2, Notice: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Attention and Notice?
Attention: noun, Notice: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Attention: The teacher asked for everyone's attention before starting the lesson. Notice: I didn't notice the time passing while I was reading.
Can I use Attention and Notice interchangeably?
Not always. Attention and Notice are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.