take notice

idiomatic phrase

: to become aware of or give attention to something or someone : to observe or treat something or someone with special attention
… one Saturday in October 1984, San Francisco coach Bill Walsh flipped on the TV to watch college football, saw Rice on the highlights and took notice.Peter King
often used with of
It was a while before anyone took notice of the change.
… suggests that the academy is at last beginning to sit up and take notice of how the world really works.Terry Teachout
They took no notice of him. [=they ignored him]

Examples of take notice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In doing so, the court cleared the way for police to begin detaining more homeless people, and the Sacramento Police Department took notice. Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2025 Fed officials have taken notice of America’s souring economic mood, but the central bank is specifically tasked by Congress to help drive employment and stable prices. Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025 But other teams around the league have taken notice, too. James Mirtle, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 The base is shifting, and the Administration should take notice. John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take notice

Word History

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take notice was in 1586

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Cite this Entry

“Take notice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20notice. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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