notion
Pluralnotions
- 1An idea, thought, or understanding of something.
Like a small picture in your mind of how something works.
She had a clear notion of what she wanted to do after school.
Young children often have funny notions about how the world works.
Similaridea, concept, belief, conception, theory
Note
- 2
- 3A sudden wish or desire to do something.
Like a sudden itch to do something right now.
He took a sudden notion to bake bread at midnight.
Whenever she gets a notion to travel, she just packs and goes.
Similarwhim, impulse, urge, fancy, inclination
Note
- 4A small item used for sewing, like a button, zipper, or thimble.
Like the little buttons and zippers that finish off your clothes.
She bought thread, a zipper, and a few other notions at the shop.
Every notion in her sewing kit had its own little pocket.
- 5A clever little gadget or small fancy object.
Like a fun little gadget you keep just because it's clever.
The market stall sold every kind of clever notion you could imagine.
He filled his shelves with brass notions and tiny mechanical toys.
Similargadget, gizmo, contraption, trinket, novelty
- 6The habit of acting like you are grander or more important than you really are.
Like acting like a king when you are just an ordinary person.
He has a notion of himself as the smartest person in any room.
Winning one small prize gave her all sorts of notions.
Similarpretension, conceit
Note
Less common meaning
- 7A person's mind or clear good sense.
Who wrought with them, and all things else that might / To half a soul and to a notion crazed / Say, 'Thus did Banquo.'
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”Here, notion means the mind or good sense, a mind that has gone crazy.Note
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of notion apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
From Latin nōtiō, meaning an idea or conception, which came from nōscō meaning "to know."