notebook

noun

note·​book ˈnōt-ˌbu̇k How to pronounce notebook (audio)
Synonyms of notebooknext
1
: a book for notes or memoranda
2
: laptop entry 2
especially : a particularly small or light laptop
… have been selling smaller, lighter, cheaper and more powerful notebooks for two years. —Peter H. Lewis
—often used before another noun
a notebook computer

Examples of notebook in a Sentence

Take out your notebook and write down some of your ideas. She kept a notebook for her poetry.
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.
The holiday collection has included an Advent calendar, which was inspired by Meghan and Harry’s California home, plus a candle, gift baskets, a teapot and matching cup set, card set, coasters, leather notebook and more. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2026 Critic’s notebook As the Mamdani administration, and cities across America, grapple with affordable housing, two handsome complexes in Queens and Brooklyn show signs of progress. — Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 This is a portrait, ballpoint pen on notebook paper, of a woman existing somewhere on Planet Earth. — Madeline Ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026 More than 200,000 contributions were collected in more than 20,000 notebooks nationwide. — Léo Keler, The Dial, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for notebook

Word History

First Known Use

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of notebook was in 1568

Rhymes for notebook

See All Rhymes for notebook

Browse Nearby Words

note
notebook
note broker
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Notebook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/notebook. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

notebook

noun
note·​book ˈnōt-ˌbu̇k How to pronounce notebook (audio)
1
: a book for notes
2
: a portable computer that is similar to but usually smaller than a laptop

More from Merriam-Webster on notebook

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for notebook

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All