Record vs Register

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

Record

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

Register

Top 2,000 (common) B2 verb

Most common: Record

	Record	Register
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈrekɔːd/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈrekərd/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈredʒɪstə(r)/","/ˈredʒɪstəz/","/ˈredʒɪstəd/","/ˈredʒɪstərɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈredʒɪstər/","/ˈredʒɪstərz/","/ˈredʒɪstərd/","/ˈredʒɪstərɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	To write down or save information.	A way of speaking or writing that fits a situation.
Example	I bought a new record of my favorite artist yesterday.	You need to register for the conference in advance to secure your spot.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A2	B2
Part of speech	noun	verb
Collocations	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	formally, officially, properly, be required to, have to, must, as, at, for, newly registered, barely, hardly, dimly, fail to, not seem to, begin to
Antonyms	erase, delete	colloquial, informal
Common mistakes	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.	Confused with 'registrar', which is a person who keeps records., Using 'register' to mean 'register for an event', which is different., Misunderstanding the term as only relating to written language, ignoring spoken forms.
Usage notes	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.	Use 'register' when discussing levels of formality in language. Appropriate in both academic and casual discussions. Avoid using it in purely informal or slang contexts.

See it in real clips

The Wire › S1 E1

of record deal, you know?

Record

Waitresses. Fuckin' forget it. No way they're takin' a bullet for the register.

Breaking Bad › S1 E4

and she also worked the cash register.

Waitresses. Fuckin' forget it. No way they're takin' a bullet for the register.

Breaking Bad › S1 E4

and she also worked the cash register.

Register

Frequently asked questions: Record vs Register

What's the difference between Record and Register?

Record: To write down or save information. Register: A way of speaking or writing that fits a situation.

Which is more common: Record and Register?

Record is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Record and Register?

Register is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Record and Register the same CEFR level?

Record: A2, Register: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Record and Register?

Record: noun, Register: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Record: I bought a new record of my favorite artist yesterday. Register: You need to register for the conference in advance to secure your spot.

Can I use Record and Register interchangeably?

Not always. Record and Register 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.