What is noticeably? Pronunciation and usage in English

noticeably means . Learn how to pronounce and use noticeably through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of noticeably

noticeablyadverb

/ˈnəʊtɪsəbli//ˈnəʊtɪsəbli/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "noticeably." It's a tricky one, but with a little attention to the sounds, you can do it!

Here's a breakdown and a few ways to approach it:

1. Phonetic Transcription (Most Accurate):

  • /ˌnɑːtɪsəˈb(ə)lɪ/ (British English)
  • /ˌnɑːtɪsəˈb(ə)lɪ/ (American English - slightly different vowel sound)

2. Breakdown by Syllables:

  • not - (like "not" as in "not happy") - /nɒt/
  • i - (like the letter i) - /ɪ/
  • ce - (sounds like "s" in "sit") - /s/
  • ably - (this is the trickiest part) – /əˈb(ə)lɪ/

3. Step-by-Step Pronunciation:

  1. "not": Say "not" clearly.

  2. "i": Quickly add a short, unstressed "i" sound: "not-i" (think of saying “it” quickly).

  3. "ce": Add the "s" sound: "not-i-ce"

  4. "ably": This is where it gets a bit tricky. Here's the key:

    • The "a": Pronounce it like the "a" in "father" or "patter". It can sound a little drawn out, almost like it’s stretching. (Think of the sound in “above”).
    • The "b" (often silent): In American English, the "b" in “ably” is often silent or nearly silent. It adds a slight emphasis to the preceding syllable.
    • The "l" and "i": Say “li” as a single sound – like “lee”.

Putting it all together:

Say it slowly at first: "Not-i-ce-ably"

Then, gradually speed it up, focusing on getting the vowel in "ably" right.

Tips & Common Mistakes:

  • Don't overemphasize the "b": The "b" in "ably" is often subtle. Over-emphasizing it makes the word sound awkward.
  • The "a" in "ably": This is the biggest hurdle for many learners. Practice saying "father" and "patter" until you get the correct vowel sound.
  • Listen to Native Speakers: The very best way to learn pronunciation is to hear it! Search on YouTube or online dictionaries (like Merriam-Webster or Cambridge Dictionary) for audio pronunciations of "noticeably." Listen and repeat.

Resources:

To help me tailor the explanation even further, would you like me to:

  • Focus on a specific regional accent (e.g., British, American)?
  • Break down how to slow down a particular part of the word?

Usage and examples with the word noticeably in English

Let's break down how to use the word "noticeably" in English. It's a versatile word that adds a specific nuance to your writing and speech.

1. Core Meaning:

"Noticeably" means "in a way that is easy to observe or become aware of." It highlights something that stands out, is different, or is easily seen or heard.

2. How to Use It – Grammatically:

  • As an Adverb: This is the most common usage. It modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
    • Modifying a Verb: “He walked noticeably slower than usual.” (The walking is what stands out - it's easy to see the difference.)
    • Modifying an Adjective: “She wore a noticeably bright red dress.” (The brightness of the red is what's emphasized.)
    • Modifying Another Adverb: “He spoke noticeably quietly.” (The quietness is easily observed.)

3. Examples – Showing Different Contexts:

  • Physical Appearance: "He had a noticeably crooked smile." (The crookedness is prominent and easy to see.)
  • Behavior: “She was noticeably nervous before the presentation.” (Her nervousness was apparent – you could tell.)
  • Sound: "The ambulance siren was noticeably louder than the cars." (The siren’s volume stood out.)
  • Change/Difference: "The weather has noticeably warmed up this week.” (It’s easy to see the change in temperature.) “There’s noticeably less traffic this morning.” (You can easily observe the reduced traffic.)
  • Quality/Effect: "The new paint job made the room noticeably brighter." (The brightness is a clear and obvious result of the paint.)
  • Emotion: “He was noticeably sad after the news.” (His sadness was evident.)

4. Key Considerations & Tips:

  • Specificity: "Noticeably" is great for pinpointing what is different. Don’t just say “He was different.” Say “He was noticeably taller.”
  • Contrast: It often works best when you're contrasting something with a normal state or expectation. “The silence was noticeably broken by a cough.” (You can hear the difference from the usual silence.)
  • Don't Overuse: Using "noticeably" frequently can become repetitive. Consider if a simpler word would work as well – sometimes “clearly,” “obviously,” or “distinctly” might be better.

5. Synonyms (Words with similar meanings):

  • Clearly
  • Obviously
  • Evidently
  • Plainly
  • Distinctly
  • Readily
  • Apparent

Let's Practice! Can you rewrite these sentences using “noticeably”?

  1. The music was loud.
  2. He was upset.
  3. The room felt cold.
  4. She was wearing a green shirt.

Answers (Don't look until you've tried!)

  1. The music was noticeably loud. (Emphasizes the loudness standing out)
  2. He was noticeably upset. (Highlights that his upset was easily observed)
  3. The room felt noticeably cold. (Focuses on the coldness being obvious)
  4. She was wearing a noticeably green shirt. (Highlights the bright green color)

Do you want to try another example or would you like me to explain how to use "noticeably" in a particular type of writing (e.g., descriptive writing, formal writing)?

Synonyms for the word noticeably

Practice with vocabulary noticeably

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. After implementing the new workflow, the team's productivity improved __________ within the first month.
  2. The company president listened __________ to the concerns raised by the union representatives during the negotiation.
  3. Scientists observed that the ice caps have been melting __________ over the past few decades, a trend that is alarming.
  4. Despite the minor adjustments made to the car's engine, the fuel efficiency did not change __________.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. After the marketing campaign launched, the website traffic increased __________ compared to the previous quarter. a) imperceptibly b) significantly c) negligibly d) noticeably
  2. The speaker's nervousness was __________ throughout the presentation, despite their attempts to hide it. a) evidently b) subtly c) implicitly d) noticeably
  3. Which word best describes a change that is easy to see or detect? a) remotely b) perceptibly c) noticeability d) visibly
  4. The new project manager implemented several changes that __________ reduced the team's workload. a) marginally b) dramatically c) subtly d) noticeably
  5. Despite his attempts to conceal his emotions, his distress was __________ as he spoke about the recent layoffs. a) audibly b) obscurely c) visibly d) faintly

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The quality of the product has become much better since they introduced stricter quality control measures. (Rewrite using "noticeably" or a related word form.)
  2. The manager's dissatisfaction was very easy to observe during the performance review. (Rewrite without using "noticeably" or any related word form.)
  3. There was a significant improvement in student engagement after the professor started using interactive teaching methods. (Rewrite using "noticeably" or a related word form.)

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. After implementing the new workflow, the team's productivity improved noticeably within the first month.
  2. The company president listened attentively to the concerns raised by the union representatives during the negotiation.
  3. Scientists observed that the ice caps have been melting gradually over the past few decades, a trend that is alarming.
  4. Despite the minor adjustments made to the car's engine, the fuel efficiency did not change noticeably.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) significantly, d) noticeably
  2. a) evidently, d) noticeably
  3. b) perceptibly, d) visibly
  4. b) dramatically, d) noticeably
  5. c) visibly

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The quality of the product has noticeably improved since they introduced stricter quality control measures.
  2. The manager's dissatisfaction was palpable during the performance review. (Other suitable answers: The manager's dissatisfaction was clearly evident during the performance review. / The manager's dissatisfaction was apparent during the performance review.)
  3. Student engagement noticeably improved after the professor started using interactive teaching methods. (Other suitable answers: There was a noticeable improvement in student engagement after the professor started using interactive teaching methods.)

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