inform

[ in-fawrm ]

/ ɪnˈfɔrm /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR inform 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.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU ACE THIS QUIZ ABOUT “COMPLIMENT” VS. “COMPLEMENT”?

Take this quiz to see if you really know the difference between “compliment” and “complement"!

Question 1 of 11

“Compliment” and “complement” had a shared meaning a long time ago, but today they are no longer interchangeable.

True

False

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of inform

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

SYNONYMS FOR inform

1 apprise; notify, advise, tell.

2 acquaint.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR inform ON THESAURUS.COM

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

infomania, infomaniac, infomercial, infopreneur, infopreneurial, inform, informal, informal settlement, informal vote, informality, informant

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for informing

Then Obama stunned John and his wife Diane, informing them of the failed special operations rescue mission from early July.
Foley Family to White House: You Saved Bergdahl. Why Not Our Son?|Eli Lake|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The process for informing the Senate and House intelligence committees is often shrouded in secrecy.
Congress Scouring Every U.S. Spy Program|Eli Lake|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Ordain Women website posted some of Harrison's email to Kelly informing her of her excommunication.
Excommunication With a Smile: Mormon Feminist Kicked Out of the Church|Emily Shire|June 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Those present agreed that the penalty for informing had to be death.
Sinn Fein Boss Gerry Adams Wanted This Murder Bust|Ed Moloney|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Instead, the group is informing the community that the trial will happen, so anyone who objects can opt out.
New 'Suspended Animation' Procedure Saves Lives by Replacing Blood with a Cold Electrolyte Solution|Elizabeth Lopatto|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
How if he should take this means of informing Joseph of his present situation?
The Strange Story of Rab Rby|Mr Jkai
He sought very diligently to anticipate some at least of these informing thrusts by making great use of Coote.
Kipps|H. G. Wells
This was the Missouri way of informing us that he was in the Rebel army.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 09, No. 51, January, 1862|Various
It began by my informing them these were not offences for which an officer, who had refused his parole, could be punished.
The Secrets of a Kuttite|Edward O. Mousley
He put the cardboard box away in a safe and locked it up; putting the key in his pocket, he gave Brent an informing glance.
In the Mayor's Parlour|J. S. (Joseph Smith) Fletcher

British Dictionary definitions for informing (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 informing (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

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

CAN YOU ACE THIS QUIZ ABOUT “COMPLIMENT” VS. “COMPLEMENT”?

Origin of inform

SYNONYMS FOR inform

OTHER WORDS FROM inform

Words nearby inform

Words related to informing

Example sentences from the Web for informing

British Dictionary definitions for informing (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of inform

Word Origin for inform

British Dictionary definitions for informing (2 of 2)

adjective

Word Origin for inform