Cool MateCapture vs Record
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Capture
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Record
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
| Capture | Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkæptʃə(r)/","/ˈkæptʃəz/","/ˈkæptʃəd/","/ˈkæptʃərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkæptʃər/","/ˈkæptʃərz/","/ˈkæptʃərd/","/ˈkæptʃərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈrekɔːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrekərd/"]/ |
| Meaning | To take something or someone and hold them. | To write down or save information. |
| Example | The photographer aimed to capture the beauty of the sunset. | I bought a new record of my favorite artist yesterday. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | noun |
| Collocations | accurately, perfectly, beautifully, try to, be able to, manage to | formal, official, public, keep, maintain, compile, contain something, include something, indicate something, in the record, in the records, off the record, access to the records, have a record of something, have no record of something, club, course, national, hold, establish, set, stand, fall, book, attempt, breaker, record for, record with, in record time, past, track, distinguished, have, possess, establish, demonstrate something, show something, compare with something, record among, record for, record in, long-playing, LP, gramophone, write, cut, make, company, industry, label, long-playing, LP, gramophone, write, cut, make, company, industry, label |
| Antonyms | release, free, let go | erase, delete |
| Common mistakes | 'Capture' used without an object (e.g., saying 'I will capture.'), 'Capture' confused with 'caught' in past tense., 'Capture' improperly used in place of 'seize' which has a different nuance. | Confused with 'recorded' when discussing past actions., Using 'record' incorrectly as a noun instead of a verb., Mixing up 'record' with 'recall' which has a different meaning. |
| Usage notes | Use 'capture' when you want to express taking control of something, either physically or metaphorically. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in situations that imply violence. | Use 'record' when talking about saving audio, video, or information. It's suitable in most contexts, but in casual speech, phrases like 'make a recording' may sound more natural. |
Frequently asked questions: Capture vs Record
What's the difference between Capture and Record?
Capture: To take something or someone and hold them. Record: To write down or save information.
Are Capture and Record the same CEFR level?
Capture: B2, Record: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Capture and Record interchangeably?
Not always. Capture and Record 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.