inform
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
informs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
informed,
past participle, past
-
informing
present participle
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- acquaint
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to give evident substance, character, or distinction to; pervade or permeate with manifest effect.
A love of nature informed his writing.
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to animate or inspire.
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Obsolete.
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to train or instruct.
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to make known; disclose.
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to give or impart form to.
-
verb (used without object)
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informs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
informed,
past participle, past
-
informing
present participle
verb phrase
adjective
verb
-
(tr; often foll by of or about) to give information to; tell
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(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
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to give form to
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to impart some essential or formative characteristic to
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(tr) to animate or inspire
-
obsolete (tr)
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to train or educate
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to report
-
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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half-informingadjective
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informableadjective
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uninformingadjective
-
half-informinglyadverb
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informedlyadverb
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informinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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informsimple
-
informssimple
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have informedperfect
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has informedperfect
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am informingprogressive
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are informingprogressive
-
is informingprogressive
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have been informingperfect progressive
-
has been informingperfect progressive
Past
-
informedsimple
-
had informedperfect
-
was informingprogressive
-
were informingprogressive
-
had been informingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of inform1
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 ”
Origin of inform2
First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin informis “formless, deformed,” equivalent to in- in- 3 + -formis -form
Explanation
To inform is to tell someone news, pass on wisdom, leak gossip, or give instruction. You've been informed that you won the raffle at the county fair. What are you going to do with all that cheese? The Latin verb infōrmāre means "to form or shape." The idea of passing on knowledge came about in the 14th Century, with the meaning of "teaching or instructing" coming later. Thomas Jefferson, who believed democracy to be impossible without informed citizens, said, “Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.”
Vocabulary lists containing inform
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Shape Up: Form
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"As part of that process we are commissioning an external review of our RDI function, which will also inform the strengthening of governance in this area."
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
The chef’s influence will extend beyond the communal dining areas and into the residences themselves, with his vision helping inform the design of the in-home kitchens.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
Ten days later, the Netflix executive emailed Afram’s team to inform them that the drive containing “Fortitude” had been stolen, according to the producer’s suit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
"While additional studies are needed, this work provides new insight into how youth-associated factors influence pathways involved in brain aging and age-related neurological disorders that may ultimately inform therapeutic strategies," Dr. Castellano added.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
And I regret to inform you that it does get worse before it gets better.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
The past informs both the present and the future.
From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026
He declines, but his absence — and a shocking later revelation — informs so much of their journey, personalizing the sense of disrepair Thomas and Erika experience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
A full diagnostic panel informs every guest’s customized itinerary.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
"We will ensure the learning from the coroner's findings informs our continuing work to strengthen patient safety and care," says Dr Bridle.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Mr. Kahn steps in and answers for her, sternly, and the helper then informs people that the buffet is open.
From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King
The best way to digest influencer content is to treat it like a commercial, and use that knowledge to make informed decisions, says Jeremy Tarr, the digital editorial director at Fodor’s Travel.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026
More than a month later she claims the district attorney’s office informed her that Wiley denied Doe’s allegations and that, “therefore, no charges would be filed.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
Meghan said she was informed about "disturbing allegations" about her estranged father in 2018.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
A U.S. official said Friday that suspected Iranian terror plots targeting U.S. personnel informed the decision to order embassy staff from their posts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
“I’m having a female issue,” she informed Mr. Graff.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
"I am grateful to them for informing me," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
The findings suggest that studying the genetics of personality could have implications well beyond psychology, potentially informing research in medicine, health, education and the workplace.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026
Bond said that after his mother's death he was occupied with informing friends and family and organising the funeral - the house was "the last thing on my mind".
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
On Aug. 19, Turpin got an email from a Slater attorney, informing him that the claims administrator had launched an audit of some of the firm’s lawsuits.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
Pirow opposed this application for dismissal, and quoted from several inflammatory speeches by the accused, informing the court that the police had unearthed more evidence of a highly dangerous conspiracy.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
