Cool MateNotify vs Update
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Notify
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Update
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Most common: Update
| Notify | Update | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪd/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪd/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌʌpˈdeɪt/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪts/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪd/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌʌpˈdeɪt/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪts/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪd/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to tell someone about something | To make something new or better. |
| Example | Competition winners will be notified by post. | Please update the software to the latest version. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | forthwith, immediately, promptly, be obliged to, be required to, must, of, to | constantly, continually, continuously, try to, need to, on, to, with, constantly, continually, continuously, try to, need to, on, to, with |
| Antonyms | ignore, neglect, overlook | degrade, downgrade |
| Common mistakes | Using 'notify' without an object (e.g., saying 'I will notify' instead of 'I will notify you')., Confusing 'notify' with 'inform' — while similar, 'notify' implies a more formal notification., Mixing up prepositions (e.g., saying 'notify with' instead of 'notify about') | Confusing 'update' with 'upgrade', which means to improve or enhance something., Using 'updating' as a noun, instead of 'update'., Omitting the object when saying 'I will update' — it should be clear what is being updated. |
| Usage notes | Use 'notify' in situations where you are formally informing someone, like in business or official contexts. Avoid in casual conversations. | Use 'update' when talking about changing information to reflect new details. It's appropriate in both personal and professional contexts, but avoid using it in overly casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Notify vs Update
What's the difference between Notify and Update?
Notify: to tell someone about something Update: To make something new or better.
Which is more common: Notify and Update?
Update is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Notify and Update?
Notify is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Notify and Update the same CEFR level?
Notify: C1, Update: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Notify and Update?
Notify: verb, Update: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Notify: Competition winners will be notified by post. Update: Please update the software to the latest version.
Can I use Notify and Update interchangeably?
Not always. Notify and Update 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.