inform
1- 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.
- to give information; supply knowledge or enlightenment: a magazine that entertains more than it informs.
- inform on, to furnish incriminating evidence about (someone) to an authority, prosecuting officer, etc.: He informed on his accomplices.
Origin of inform
1Synonyms for inform
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.cominform
2- without form; formless.
Origin of inform
2Related Words for inform
educate, update, apprise, brief, warn, instruct, caution, notify, advise, tell, illuminate, inspire, edify, relate, forewarn, blab, post, enlighten, endue, familiarizeExamples from the Web for inform
Contemporary Examples of inform
I would like to inform everyone not to take the page too seriously, we are not trying to promote anything.
The signs, he said, were designed to inform people in the neighborhood — not to get him press.
But the official said this was meant only to inform Iran about U.S. actions, not to start negotiations over what to do about ISIS.
Hobbes lacked the data of archaeology and anthropology to inform his theories about the dangerous nature of pre-state existence.
Gupta has to entertain, as much as inform, around a gruesome situation.
Historical Examples of inform
Before I go out, I must inform you of one thing you must be careful about.
The Imaginary InvalidMolire
I ventured to inform him on this point and he thanked me with some emotion.
Camps, Quarters and Casual PlacesArchibald Forbes
Eleanor insisted that John should not inform his mother of her return to work.
The Foolish LoversSt. John G. Ervine
"If madame will call again, I will inform her of my plans," said Mr. Love.
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
I thought it could be no harm, to get you to inform yourself, and me, of what could be gathered.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
inform
1- (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
Word Origin for inform
inform
2- archaic without shape; unformed
Word Origin for inform
Word Origin and History for inform
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.