inform

verb in·form \ in-ˈfȯrm \

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

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Examples: inform in a Sentence

informed; informing; informs

transitive verb

1 obsolete : to give material form to

2 a : to give character or essence to

the principles which inform modern teaching

b : to be the characteristic quality of : animate

the compassion that informs her work

3 obsolete : guide, direct

4 obsolete : to make known

5 : to communicate knowledge to

inform a prisoner of his rights

intransitive verb

1 : to impart information or knowledge

2 : to give information (as of another's wrongdoing) to an authority

informed on a member of his own gang

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Examples of inform in a Sentence

The book will entertain and inform you.
The arresting officer failed to inform the suspect of his rights.
He failed to inform the suspect that he had the right to remain silent.
We haven't yet been informed of her decision.
Frequent reports from the battlefield kept the general informed about how the attack was progressing.
The book will both entertain and inform.
His Catholic upbringing informs all his writing.

Recent Examples of inform from the Web

Some complained that their streets were closed off even though they had been previously informed otherwise.

— kate talerico, The Courier-Journal, "Churchill Downs neighbors demand changes to Derby parking," 13 June 2018
Rubiales said from the team’s training facility in Krasnodar, in southern Russia, suggesting he had been informed of the news just five minutes before the news was made public.

— rory smith, New York Times, "Spain Fires Coach Julen Lopetegui on Eve of World Cup," 13 June 2018
In my fact-finding, I was informed that Dr. Molloy did indeed tell Dr. Williams to discuss the plan with Vivian.

— anne saker, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati VA turmoil: 3 patients sent elsewhere when surgery department closed for 4 days," 11 June 2018
Members of Congress, Democrat and Republican, are going to be informed a lot by their constituents.

— madeline marshall, Vox, "Trump invented a fake spy scandal. People will still believe it.," 8 June 2018
Above all this troubling, stirring book is informed by Mr Powers’s deep understanding of war’s complexities, and of how people are broken and shaped by it.

— The Economist, "Kevin Powers has written a harrowing, resonant civil war novel," 6 June 2018
He was informed on May 29 the lymph nodes in the surrounding area where the cancer took hold were inflamed.

— brian murphy, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UCF pitcher JJ Montgomery eager to get draft call, aid friend battling cancer," 5 June 2018
While the choice of therapy is a personal decision between the patient and a doctor based on a number of factors, that decision and that discussion could be informed by much more accurate risk calculations.

— elizabeth cooney, STAT, "New risk calculator could change the aspirin, statins, and blood pressure medications some people take," 4 June 2018
On another occasion, following a 14-hour practice, nine cheerleaders were informed by the squad's director that they had been selected by several male sponsorship executives to be their personal escorts for the evening.

— peter dawson, star-telegram, "Report: Redskins official who made cheerleaders pose topless and serve as escorts, resigns," 1 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inform.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.