Cool MateNotice vs Sign
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Notice
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Sign
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
| Notice | Sign | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊtɪs/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪst/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊtɪs/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪst/","/ˈnəʊtɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/saɪn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/saɪn/"]/ |
| Meaning | to see or pay attention to something | A symbol or action that shows something or gives information. |
| Example | I didn't notice the time passing while I was reading. | Please follow the sign to reach the train station. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | noun |
| Collocations | 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 | classic, clear, definite, bear, have, betray, appear, come, indicate something, at a/the sign, sign from, sign of, sign of life, a sign of the times, a sign of things to come, flashing, illuminated, neon, erect, hang, hang out, read something, announce something, proclaim something, sign for, sign to, rude, peace, thumbs-up, give (somebody), make, communicate through, language, system, sign for, make the sign of the cross, dollar, euro, pound, draw, use, mean something, sign for, birth, star, astrological, be born under, sign of, the signs of the Zodiac |
| Antonyms | ignore, overlook | ignore, disregard |
| Common mistakes | '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. | Confused with 'sine' in mathematical contexts., Using 'sign' as a verb incorrectly, e.g., 'I will sign that paper' without indicating what or who to sign., Misusing 'sign' for 'symbol' when differentiating context. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Used in various contexts like directing people, indicating information, or marking something. More formal in legal contexts, and informal in everyday signage. |
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Frequently asked questions: Notice vs Sign
What's the difference between Notice and Sign?
Notice: to see or pay attention to something Sign: A symbol or action that shows something or gives information.
Are Notice and Sign the same CEFR level?
Notice: A2, Sign: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Notice and Sign?
Notice: verb, Sign: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Notice: I didn't notice the time passing while I was reading. Sign: Please follow the sign to reach the train station.
Can I use Notice and Sign interchangeably?
Not always. Notice and Sign 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.