Notably

How to spell notably

7 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce notably

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does notably mean?

1. adverbIn a way that is striking, important, or worth special attention.

Notably in a sentence

• The report was notably thorough compared with last year's draft.

• Several senior staff, notably the finance director, attended the meeting.

Where does notably come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word traces back to the Latin verb notare, meaning 'to mark' or 'to note', which itself grew from nota, a 'mark' or 'sign'. From notare came the medieval Latin notabilis, describing something 'worthy of being noted', and English borrowed the adjective 'notable' through Old French during the 1300s. The adverb 'notably' was then formed in English by attaching the native '-ly' ending, giving the sense 'in a way that stands out or deserves attention'. The same nota root sits inside familiar relatives such as 'note', 'notice', and 'notation', all sharing the idea of marking something down. The spelling keeps the silent 'e' of 'note' dropped before the '-able', which is the small trap writers should remember: it is not-ably, with a single visible link back to that Latin mark.

How the word is built

• not- (from notare: to mark, note)
• -able (capable of being noted)
• -ly (adverb suffix)