inform

[ in-fawrm ]

/ ɪnˈfɔrm /

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See synonyms for: inform / informed / informing / informs on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to give or impart knowledge of a fact or circumstance to: He informed them of his arrival.

to supply (oneself) with knowledge of a matter or subject: She informed herself of all the pertinent facts.

to give evident substance, character, or distinction to; pervade or permeate with manifest effect: A love of nature informed his writing.

to animate or inspire.

Obsolete.

to train or instruct.
to make known; disclose.
to give or impart form to.

verb (used without object)

to give information; supply knowledge or enlightenment: a magazine that entertains more than it informs.

Verb Phrases

inform on, to furnish incriminating evidence about (someone) to an authority, prosecuting officer, etc.: He informed on his accomplices.

OTHER WORDS FOR inform

1 apprise; notify, advise, tell.

2 acquaint.

See synonyms for inform on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of inform

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English enfo(u)rmen, informen, from Old French enfo(u)rmer, from Latin infōrmāre “to form, shape,” equivalent to in- in-² + fōrmāre “to form ”

OTHER WORDS FROM inform

in·form·a·ble, adjectivein·form·ing·ly, adverbhalf-in·form·ing, adjectivehalf-in·form·ing·ly, adverb

un·in·form·ing, adjective

Words nearby inform

infopreneur, infopreneurial, in for, in for a penny, in for a pound, in force, inform, informal, informality, informally, informal settlement, informal vote

Other definitions for inform (2 of 2)

inform²

[ in-fawrm ]

/ ɪnˈfɔrm /

adjective Obsolete.

without form; formless.

Origin of inform

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin informis “formless, deformed,” equivalent to in- in-³ + -formis -form

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use inform in a sentence

He informed them that he was a student and received results back pretty quickly, within two days, before getting on the plane.
Even the most cautious schools are seeing outbreaks|Sy Mukherjee|September 17, 2020|Fortune
Had she been informed of what was being done with regard to her fallopian tubes, she would have been able to respond fairly to that.
A woman in ICE detention says her fallopian tube was removed without her consent|Nicole Narea|September 17, 2020|Vox
Instead, the doctor informed her that he had also removed one of her fallopian tubes and that she could expect to have difficulty conceiving if she wanted to have more children.
A woman in ICE detention says her fallopian tube was removed without her consent|Nicole Narea|September 17, 2020|Vox
Its comprehensive report, released in 2018, informed my research and the list below.
Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money.|Sigal Samuel|September 17, 2020|Vox

Soon the prestigious Wellesley College informed her that it had put her on the waitlist for admission.
When a Calculus Class Abruptly Became Ceramics at Lincoln High|Scott Lewis|September 16, 2020|Voice of San Diego
How did your start as a book reviewer inform the personal essayist you became?
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The daily message of that outsized shield to Ramos was that just wearing the NYPD inform can make you a target.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
How does a complicated ethnic background inform someone's experiences?
What It's Like To Be Ambiguously Ethnic|The Daily Beast Video|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We kindly inform these little jokers with the dubious jokes that they risk judicial proceedings they may not find funny at all.
French Freak-Out Over Creepy Clowns|Tracy McNicoll|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I would like to inform everyone not to take the page too seriously, we are not trying to promote anything.
The Blinged-Up Rich Kids of Tehran on Instagram|Lizzie Crocker|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That alone is being sent to your Majesty as a report, in order to inform you of everything, as is my duty.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
He has a packet in his possession, that will inform Louis de Montemar of the fate of his father.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
He instructed the black woman to go at once and inform Madame Lebrun that Mrs. Pontellier desired to see her.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
I shall be short in this letter, because I know but little as yet, and that little I expect Mr. Page will inform you.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
Perhaps in a day or two I shall hear something about it; I would thank you to inform me should you know anything about it.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick

British Dictionary definitions for inform (1 of 2)

inform¹

/ (ɪnˈfɔːm) /

verb

(tr; often foll by of or about) to give information to; tell

(tr; often foll by of or about) to make conversant (with)

(intr; often foll by against or on) to give information regarding criminals, as to the police, etc

to give form to

to impart some essential or formative characteristic to

(tr) to animate or inspire

(tr) obsolete

to train or educate
to report

Derived forms of inform

informable, adjectiveinformedly (ɪnˈfɔːmɪdlɪ), adverbinformingly, adverb

Word Origin for inform

C14: from Latin informāre to give form to, describe, from formāre to form

British Dictionary definitions for inform (2 of 2)

inform²

/ (ɪnˈfɔːm) /

adjective

archaic without shape; unformed

Word Origin for inform

C16: from Latin informis from in- 1 + forma shape

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

inform

OTHER WORDS FOR inform

Origin of inform

OTHER WORDS FROM inform

Words nearby inform

Other definitions for inform (2 of 2)

Origin of inform

Words related to inform

How to use inform in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inform (1 of 2)

Derived forms of inform

Word Origin for inform

British Dictionary definitions for inform (2 of 2)

Word Origin for inform