Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense informs, present participle informing, past tense, past participle informed
1. verb
If you inform someone of something, you tell them about it.
They would inform him of any progress they had made. [VERB noun + of]
My daughter informed me that she was pregnant. [VERB noun that]
'I just added a little soy sauce,' he informs us. [VERB noun with quote]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: tell, advise, let someone know, notify More Synonyms of inform
2. verb
If someone informs on a person, they give information about the person to the police or another authority, which causes the person to be suspected or proved guilty of doing something bad.
Somebody must have informed on us. [VERBon noun]
Thousands of American citizens have informed on these organized crime syndicates. [VERB + on]
3. verb
If a situation or activity is informed by an idea or a quality, that idea or quality is very noticeable in it.
[formal]
All great songs are informed by a certain sadness and tension. [beVERB-ed + by]
The concept of the Rose continued to inform the poet's work. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: infuse, characterize, permeate, animate More Synonyms of inform
inform in British English1
(ɪnˈfɔːm)
verb
1. (tr; often foll by of or about)
to give information to; tell
2. (tr; often foll by of or about)
to make conversant (with)
3. (intr; often foll by against or on)
to give information regarding criminals, as to the police, etc
4.
to give form to
5.
to impart some essential or formative characteristic to
6. (transitive)
to animate or inspire
7. (transitive) obsolete
a.
to train or educate
b.
to report
Derived forms
informable (inˈformable)
adjective
informedly (ɪnˈfɔːmɪdlɪ)
adverb
informingly (inˈformingly)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Latin informāre to give form to, describe, from formāre to form
inform in British English2
(ɪnˈfɔːm)
adjective
archaic
without shape; unformed
Word origin
C16: from Latin informis from in-1 + forma shape
inform in American English1
(ɪnˈfɔrm)
verb transitive
1.
a. Obsolete
to give form to
b.
to give character to; be the formative principle of
c.
to give or inspire with some specific quality or character
2. Rare
to form or shape (the mind); teach; instruct
3.
to give knowledge of something to; tell; acquaint with a fact, etc.
verb intransitive
4.
to give information
5.
to give information laying blame or accusation upon another
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈnotiˌfy
Word origin
ME informen < OFr enformer < L informare: see in-1 & form
inform in American English2
(ɪnˈfɔrm)
adjective
Archaic
without form; formless
Word origin
Fr informe < L informis
Examples of 'inform' in a sentence
inform
The university said that it had informed students about the tragedies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The philosophy is that we should all be informed about nutrition and then left free to choose.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It said suspects should not be named before being arrested and they should be kept informed of progress.
The Sun (2016)
If she were entertaining politicians for dinner, she wanted to be as well informed as anyone else.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Well, not entirely well informed.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The place was doing sprightly business on a random Thursday night in autumn and the staff are fantastically well informed and very relaxed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I dived in and swam angry crawl until the manager appeared at the deep end to tell me the police had been informed.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Villagers appear to have informed police about the operation.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Retailers need to keep shareholders fully informed.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This means companies can make more informed choices about their education needs.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We maintain a lending library to encourage members to become as well informed as possible.
Siegel, Bernie S. (MD) Love, Medicine and Miracles (1990)
We have absorbed them into our national bloodstream and they continue to inform and shape our ideals.
The Sun (2011)
In practice she will be kept informed of the progress of negotiations.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Nor are the public informed about rocket fire from that hospital.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Two weeks after the original dispatch senior managers were informed about the loss.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They had informed the police who had reacted calmly enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
People can make much more informed choices nowadays and that is a good thing.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They are well informed and expect quality.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Be proactive and keep the agent regularly informed of progress.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Keeping the public informed on the risks to their safety and security is clearly sensible.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It informed her feelings about her life.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The coroner has been informed and police are appealing for witnesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
After a week here, you should head home informed and inspired for a healthy year.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
All is well, we are reliably informed.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Once you have that knowledge, you feel better informed to make lifestyle changes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What parts of your sermon will inform and inspire, as well as make room for reflection and application?
Christianity Today (2000)
Whether you are dreaming of a short holiday or the trip of a lifetime, it will inspire and inform you.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You should be fully informed and aware of any particular threat or risks to do with your job or members of the public you might meet.
Lamplugh, Diana & Sterwin, Diana & Nottidge, Pamela Survive the Nine to Five - a woman's guide to working well (1989)
I'm reliably informed by all that it is a good one.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I suspect he is not fully informed on the subJect.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Quotations
Never tell tales out of school
In other languages
inform
British English: inform /ɪnˈfɔːm/ VERB
If you inform someone of something, you tell them about it.
They informed him of any progress they had made.
American English: inform
Arabic: يُبْلِغُ عَنْ
Brazilian Portuguese: informar
Chinese: 告知
Croatian: obavijestiti
Czech: informovat
Danish: informere
Dutch: informeren
European Spanish: informar
Finnish: tiedottaa
French: informer
German: informieren
Greek: πληροφορώ
Italian: informare
Japanese: 知らせる
Korean: 알리다
Norwegian: informere
Polish: poinformować
European Portuguese: informar
Romanian: a informa
Russian: сообщать
Latin American Spanish: informar
Swedish: upplysa
Thai: แจ้งให้ทราบ
Turkish: bilgi vermek
Ukrainian: повідомляти
Vietnamese: thông báo
Chinese translation of 'inform'
inform
(ɪnˈfɔːm)
vt
(= tell) 告诉(訴) (gàosù)
(frm, = give form to) 贯(貫)穿 (guànchuān)
vi
to inform on sb (to police, authorities) 告发(發)某人 (gàofā mǒurén)
to inform sb of sth把某事通知某人 (bǎ mǒushì tōngzhī mǒurén)
to inform sb that ... 告诉(訴)某人 ... (gàosù mǒurén ... )
All related terms of 'inform'
to inform on sb
( to police, authorities ) 告发(發)某人 gàofā mǒurén
to inform sb of sth
把某事通知某人 bǎ mǒushì tōngzhī mǒurén
to inform sb that ...
告诉(訴)某人 ... gàosù mǒurén ...
we regret to inform you that ...
我们(們)遗(遺)憾地通知您 ... wǒmen yíhàn de tōngzhī nín ...
we are pleased to inform you that ...
我们(們)荣(榮)幸地告诉(訴)你 ... wǒmen róngxìng de gàosù nǐ ...
1 (verb)
Definition
to make knowledgeable (about) or familiar (with)
They would inform him of any progress they had made.
Synonyms
tell
I called her to tell her how spectacular it looked.
advise
I must advise you of my decision to retire.
let someone know
notify
The skipper notified the coastguard of the tragedy.
brief
A spokesperson briefed reporters.
instruct
Instruct them that they've got three months to get it sorted out.
edify
the ability of comedy to edify as well as to entertain an audience
enlighten
Their aim is to enlighten the public about the situation.
acquaint
I want to acquaint myself with your abilities and your weaknesses.
Have steps been made to acquaint them with their rights?
leak to
communicate to
fill someone in
I'll fill him in on the details.
keep someone posted
Keep me posted on your progress.
apprise
Have the customers been fully apprised of the advantages?
clue someone in (informal)
put someone in the picture (informal)
I haven't had time to put him in the picture yet.
tip someone off
send word to
give someone to understand
make someone conversant (with)
2 (verb)
Definition
to impart some essential or formative characteristic to
All great songs are informed by a certain sadness and tension.
Synonyms
infuse
A strange spirit infused the place.
characterize
This election campaign has been characterized by violence.
permeate
The water will eventually permeate through the surrounding concrete.
animate
saturate
If the filter has been saturated with motor oil, discard it.
typify
These buildings typify the rich extremes of the local architecture.
imbue
He is able to imbue his listeners with enthusiasm.
suffuse
A dull red flash suffused Selby's face.
phrasal verb
See inform on someone
proverb
Never tell tales out of school
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acquaint
I want to acquaint myself with your abilities and your weaknesses.Have steps been made to acquaint them with their rights?
Synonyms
tell,
announce,
reveal,
advise,
inform,
communicate,
disclose,
notify,
enlighten,
divulge,
familiarize,
apprise,
let (someone) know
in the sense of advise
Definition
to inform or notify
I must advise you of my decision to retire.
Synonyms
notify,
tell,
report,
announce,
warn,
declare,
inform,
acquaint,
make known,
apprise,
let (someone) know
in the sense of apprise
Definition
to make aware
Have the customers been fully apprised of the advantages?