Notify vs Remind

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Notify

Top 2,000 (common) C1 verb

Remind

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 verb

Most common: Remind

	Notify	Remind
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪd/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪd/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈmaɪnd/","/rɪˈmaɪndz/","/rɪˈmaɪndɪd/","/rɪˈmaɪndɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈmaɪnd/","/rɪˈmaɪndz/","/rɪˈmaɪndɪd/","/rɪˈmaɪndɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	to tell someone about something	to help someone remember something
Example	Competition winners will be notified by post.	Please remind me to call my mom later.
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	forcefully, forcibly, strongly, not have to, not need to, serve to, about, of, keep reminding somebody
Antonyms	ignore, neglect, overlook	forget, neglect
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')	Confused with 'remember' - 'remind' requires an object., Incorrect preposition - remember to use 'of' after 'remind'.
Usage notes	Use 'notify' in situations where you are formally informing someone, like in business or official contexts. Avoid in casual conversations.	Use 'remind' when you want to make someone aware of something they may have forgotten. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in very casual or playful situations.

See it in real clips

The Pitt › S1 E1

- and notify the family. - Yep.

Notify

It reminds me of Mrs. Rachel Troubowitz and what she said to me

To remind you of something.

It reminds me of Mrs. Rachel Troubowitz and what she said to me

To remind you of something.

Remind

Frequently asked questions: Notify vs Remind

What's the difference between Notify and Remind?

Notify: to tell someone about something Remind: to help someone remember something

Which is more common: Notify and Remind?

Remind is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Notify and Remind?

Notify is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Notify and Remind the same CEFR level?

Notify: C1, Remind: B1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Notify and Remind?

Notify: verb, Remind: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Notify: Competition winners will be notified by post. Remind: Please remind me to call my mom later.

Can I use Notify and Remind interchangeably?

Not always. Notify and Remind 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.