4 syllables: no, tice, a, bly. Stress on no.
NOH-tis-uh-blee
/ˈnoʊtɪsəbli/
noticeably is pronounced NOH-tis-uh-blee (/ˈnoʊtɪsəbli/). It has four syllables (no-tice-a-bly), with the stress on "no". Noticeably describes something that is easy to observe or perceive; the degree to which a characteristic stands out is clear or obvious. In use, it signals that a change or effect is not subtle, making the attribute perceptible to most observers. The word functions adverbially, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to emphasize conspicuousness.
Noticeably describes something that is easy to observe or perceive; the degree to which a characteristic stands out is clear or obvious. In use, it signals that a change or effect is not subtle, making the attribute perceptible to most observers. The word functions adverbially, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to emphasize conspicuousness.
"The weather has improved noticeably since last week."
"Her attitude has noticeably softened after the discussion."
"Attendance was noticeably higher on the weekend compared to weekdays."
Pronounce as /ˈnoʊ.tɪs.ə.bli/ (US) or /ˈnəʊ.tɪs.ə.bli/ (UK/AU). Primary stress on the first syllable: NO-tis-ə-blee. The middle syllable is a light schwa, and the final -bly is a syllabic -ble with a light, quick /bli/ ending. Practice by saying 'note-iss-uh-blee' with the second syllable reduced to a soft /ɪ/ and the final /bli/ clearly enunciated.
Common errors include misplacing stress (e.g., NO-tis-a-blee vs. no-TI-suh-blee), pronouncing the middle vowels as full, clear vowels rather than a reduced schwa, and running the -bly too quickly as a single consonant cluster. To correct: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable (not a long /iː/), let the middle be a relaxed /ə/, and finish with a crisp /bli/ so the /l/ and /i/ are distinct.
In US you’ll hear /ˈnoʊ.tɪs.ə.bli/ with clear /noʊ/ and a light /ə/ before /bli/. UK/AU often realize /ˈnəʊ.tɪs.ə.bli/ with more centralized initial vowel and slightly stronger /ə/ in the second syllable; nonrhotic varieties may reduce the /r/ not relevant here. The final /bli/ tends to be more compact in fast speech across accents. Overall, the rhythm remains strong-weak-ə-blee, but vowel quality and major stress remain on the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in the combination of a two-step vowel onsets and the fast, weakly stressed middle syllable. The initial /ˈnoʊ/ vs /ˈnəʊ/ difference in American vs British spellings can throw you off, as can producing the unstressed /ə/ before /bli/. Also, keeping the /t/ light and not letting it blend into /ɪs/ requires precise timing. Focus on the sequence NO-tis-ə-bli with deliberate light consonant on /t/ and a clean /bli/ ending.
A unique feature is sustaining the light secondary syllables while maintaining strong primary stress. The second syllable /tɪs/ is short and less prominent; the following /ə/ is a schwa that anchors the rhythm, and the final /bli/ requires a clear /l/ and /i/ to avoid blending into the -ly ending. Visualize syllable-by-syllable timing: NO-tis-ə-bli, keeping the middle syllable relaxed and the last syllable crisp.
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Noticeably originates from notice + -ably, forming an adverbial modifier meaning 'in a way that can be noticed.' The verb notice itself comes from Latin notitia via French notice, ultimately from late Latin notitia meaning 'a known fact, knowledge.' The suffix -able derives from Latin -abilis, forming adjectives meaning 'able to be Xed' and in English produces adverbs in -ably. The English word notice appeared in the 15th century as a noun or verb meaning to observe or become aware. By the 17th-18th centuries, English speakers began forming adverbs from adjectives with -ly/-ably to indicate manner; noticeably emerged as a natural extension to describe how something is perceived or detected, emphasizing perceptibility. First known usage in print appears in scholarly and descriptive writing of observation and perception, aligning with a growing interest in precise description in scientific and literary contexts. Over time, the term has maintained its utility for drawing attention to observable differences, changes, or effects that are readily observed by readers or listeners.
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Words that rhyme with "noticeably"
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