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definitions

inform

1
[in-fawrm]
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inform ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

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.

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RELATED WORDS

educate, update, apprise, brief, warn, instruct, caution, notify, advise, tell, illuminate, inspire, edify, relate, forewarn, blab, post, enlighten, endue, familiarize

Origin of inform

1
1275–1325; Middle English informen < Latin infōrmāre to form, shape, equivalent to in- in-2 + fōrmāre to form; replacing Middle English enfourmen < Middle French enfourmer < Latin, as above
Related formsin·form·a·ble, adjectivein·form·ing·ly, adverbhalf-in·form·ing, adjectivehalf-in·form·ing·ly, adverbun·in·form·ing, adjective

Synonyms for inform

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inform ON THESAURUS.COM
1. apprise; notify, advise, tell. 2. acquaint.

inform

2
[in-fawrm]

adjective Obsolete.

without form; formless.

Origin of inform

2
1545–55; < Latin informis formless, deformed, equivalent to in- in-3 + -formis -form
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inform

Contemporary Examples of inform

Historical Examples of inform

British Dictionary definitions for inform

inform

1

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
  1. to train or educate
  2. to report
Derived Formsinformable, adjectiveinformedly (ɪnˈfɔːmɪdlɪ), adverbinformingly, adverb

Word Origin for inform

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

inform

2

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
Word Origin and History for inform
v.

early 14c., "to train or instruct in some specific subject," from Old French informer "instruct, inform, teach," and directly from Latin informare "to shape, form," figuratively "train, instruct, educate," from in- "into" (see in- (2)) + formare "to form, shape," from forma "form" (see form (n.)). Varied with enform until c.1600. Sense of "report facts or news" first recorded late 14c. Related: Informed; informing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper