Meaning & use
noticing
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“noticing” is a form of “notice”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Becoming aware of something by seeing, hearing or sensing it.
Grammar: Takes an object or a clause: noticing a change, noticing that it was late.
Patterns
- noticing something
- noticing that something
She kept noticing small cracks in the old wall.
I am noticing that you seem tired today.
He walked in without noticing the wet floor.
verbtransitive
Paying attention to something and registering it, with the sense of watching how it changes or behaves.
Grammar: Often follows a verb like start or keep: start noticing, keep noticing.
Patterns
- start noticing something
- noticing someone do something
I started noticing patterns in how the customers ordered.
Noticing the birds changing their routes helped the scientists.
Are you noticing any improvement since you changed your diet?
noununcountabletechnical
The act or habit of becoming aware of details, especially in language learning, where it means attending to forms and patterns.
Grammar: Used as a noun in teaching and psychology: noticing is a key step.
Patterns
- noticing of something
- the role of noticing
Teachers say noticing is the first step towards learning a new grammar rule.
Mindfulness practice builds the habit of noticing.
The study looks at how noticing affects vocabulary learning.
Word forms
| base form | notice |
|---|---|
| third person singular | notices |
| past tense | noticed |
| -ing form | noticing |
Common combinations
- without noticing
- He left without noticing his keys on the table.
- keep noticing
- I keep noticing the same car outside my house.
- start noticing
- You will start noticing small details after a while.
- noticing a change
- Noticing a change in her mood, he asked if she was all right.
- noticing the signs
- Noticing the signs early can save lives.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spotting
- Spotting suggests picking out something specific quickly, while noticing is more general awareness.
- observing
- Observing is deliberate and careful watching, whereas noticing often happens by chance.
- detecting
- Detecting suggests finding something hidden, often with skill or equipment, while noticing is ordinary awareness.
- perceiving
- Perceiving is more formal and covers understanding through the senses, whereas noticing is the everyday word.
Opposites
Word family
- notice verb
- to become aware of something
- notice noun
- a written announcement, or attention
- noticeable adjective
- easy to see or detect
- noticeably adverb
- in a way that is easy to see
- unnoticed adjective
- not seen or observed
Commonly confused: noticing or announcing?
noticing vs announcing
Announcing means telling something publicly. Noticing means becoming aware of something yourself.
Practice
She walked past the sign without ______ that the road was closed.
Choose one answer.
After the preposition without, the verb takes the -ing form, so noticing is correct. Notice, noticed and to notice do not fit after a preposition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “noticing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.