take notes

Idioms

Also, make notes. Record one's observations or what one hears in order to help recall them later. For example, Jim never takes notes in class and I think he'll regret it, or The decorator made notes of window measurements and other dimensions. [Mid-1500s] Also see take note.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

take notes

From our testing, it’s handy when you want to take notes while viewing a presentation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

But I’ve found that not having to take notes has had the opposite of the intended effect on my absorption of information.

From Slate ● May 24, 2026

Diplomatic sources involved in this process say he often didn't even take notes - which only heightened Iranian suspicion and meant the talks often went in circles.

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026

Every five minutes, he and his fellow researchers take notes, singling out one of the group's 10 adult males to follow each day.

From Barron's ● Jan. 15, 2026

“I...I take notes on things. The woods. The animals. Changes.”

From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023