Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To formally or officially inform someone about something, typically a future event, a decision, or a requirement. This often implies providing advance information, especially regarding the termination of an agreement or employment.
   • To terminate the employment of someone; to dismiss or discharge an employee from a job or position.

Usage and Examples

• Informing somebody of something:

  • The landlord must give notice to the tenant at least 30 days before the rent increase.
  • The company will give notice of the office closure next week.

• Terminating employment:

  • The manager had to give notice to the employee for consistent underperformance.
  • After the merger, the new owners gave notice to several department heads.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• The phrase often carries a formal or legal connotation. It is commonly used in contexts involving contracts, leases, and employment.
• The object of the action (the person being informed or dismissed) is typically connected using the preposition "to" (e.g., ).
• In the context of employment, "give notice" can be used from both the employer's perspective (to dismiss) and, less formally, from the employee's perspective (to resign, though "hand in notice" is more precise for resigning).

Variants and Related Words

• Notice (n): The formal information or warning itself.
  • She received a two-week notice.
• Hand in one's notice (v phrase): To resign from a job by submitting a formal notification.
  • He decided to hand in his notice after ten years.
• Terminate (v): A more general synonym for ending an employment contract.
• Dismiss (v): To formally remove someone from a job.

Synonyms

• Inform: To tell someone about something.
• Notify: To formally or officially inform.
• Terminate: To bring to an end.
• Dismiss: To send someone away; to discharge from employment.

Related Phrases and Phrasal Verbs

• Give advance notice: To inform well before the event or deadline.
  • Please give advance notice if you need to cancel the appointment.
• Give short notice: To inform with very little time before the event or deadline.
  • They gave us short notice about the meeting change.

Notes on Meaning

• The two primary meanings are connected by the core idea of formal communication. The first meaning (to inform) is broader, while the second (to dismiss) is a specific application often in a professional context. The intended meaning is usually clear from the situation.

Verb

1. inform (somebody) of something
   • I advised him that the rent was due
2. terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
   • The boss fired his secretary today
   • The company terminated 25% of its workers