Definition of inform
transitive verb
1 obsolete : to give material form to
2a : to give character or essence to the principles which inform modern teachingb : to be the characteristic quality of : animate the compassion that informs her work
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
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Trump has proposed reducing it by more than 31 percent - largely over Pruitt's objections - and employees received an email Thursday informing them of upcoming buyouts.
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A recent mailing by the Postal Service informed them that the village's ZIP code of 60418 will take effect July 1.
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Noriega got involved with the U.S. at a young age, volunteering to inform on leftist students during the Eisenhower administration.
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How the privacy rules came to be undone helps to explain and inform the strategies behind the broader range of Republican initiatives in the works.
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On Tuesday, the district said Marten informed the school board of the appointment of Soto-Ramos to the post for the 2017-18 school year.
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The court was also informed that lawyer Jagjit Singh was appointed by the North Korean Embassy to monitor the case for them.
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Elizabeth, the author informs us, is having an affair with a married man.
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In pursuit of a federal grant, Connecticut was scheduled to pay $300,000 as the state's share of the study, but the legislature was never informed by the state transportation department.
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.
Origin and Etymology of inform
Middle English, from Anglo-French enformer, from Latin informare, from in- + forma form
Synonym Discussion of inform
INFORM Defined for English Language Learners
inform
playDefinition of inform for English Language Learners
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: to give information to (someone)
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: to be or provide the essential quality of (something) : to be very noticeable in (something)
INFORM Defined for Kids
inform
playDefinition of inform for Students
informed
;informing
1 : to let a person know something I informed him of the changes.
2 : to give information so as to accuse or cause suspicion He refused to inform on his friends.
informer
nounLearn More about inform
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See words that rhyme with inform Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for inform Spanish Central: Translation of inform Nglish: Translation of inform for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of inform for Arabic speakers
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