Meaning & use
notable
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Worth noticing because it is important, unusual or impressive.
Grammar: Often before a noun or after be: a notable achievement; notable for her skill.
Patterns
- notable for something
- notable as something
The town is notable for its medieval bridge.
Her notable success surprised the critics.
A notable exception to the rule is the last chapter.
adjectivebefore a noun
Well known and respected.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: notable guests.
Patterns
- notable people
- a notable figure
The party was attended by several notable guests.
He is a notable figure in local politics.
Many notable authors spoke at the festival.
nouncountableformal
An important and well-known person.
Grammar: Formal; usually plural: local notables.
Patterns
- local notables
Local notables sat at the head table.
The mayor welcomed the visiting notables.
A few notables were seen at the opening.
Word forms
| comparative | more notable |
|---|---|
| superlative | most notable |
| plural | notables |
Common combinations
- notable exception
- With one notable exception, the team played well.
- notable achievement
- The prize recognizes a notable achievement.
- notable for
- The cathedral is notable for its windows.
- notable absence
- Her notable absence was widely discussed.
- notable figure
- He is a notable figure in science.
Synonyms and how they differ
- noteworthy
- Noteworthy is almost the same but stresses being worth a mention.
- remarkable
- Remarkable is stronger and suggests something surprising or extraordinary.
- significant
- Significant stresses importance or effect, not that it is distinctive.
- prominent
- Prominent suggests someone or something that is highly visible or well known.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: notable or notorious?
notable vs notorious
Notorious means famous for something bad, whereas notable is positive or neutral.
Practice
The village is ___ for its annual lantern festival, which draws visitors from afar.
Choose one answer.
Notable for means worth attention because of something. Notorious would suggest a bad reputation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “notable”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.