report

noun re·port \ ri-ˈpȯrt \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of report

1 a : common talk or an account spread by common talk : rumor

b : quality of reputation

a witness of good report

2 a : a usually detailed account or statement

a news report

b : an account or statement of a judicial opinion or decision

c : a usually formal record of the proceedings of a meeting or session

3 : an explosive noise

— on report

: subject to disciplinary action

was put on report for the violation

See report defined for English-language learners

See report defined for kids

Examples of report in a Sentence

a special report on health
a report from our correspondent in China
She wrote a report of the meeting.
He gave a detailed report on the project.
She filled out a police report at the scene of the accident.
the government's report on crime in 2006
Unconfirmed reports state that over 100 people were hurt.
Police have received reports of gang activity in the neighborhood.

Recent Examples of report from the Web

Lausch will oversee document production, report progress to the Attorney General and discuss the redaction process with members of Congress, Flores said in the statement.

— caroline kelly, CNN, "Chicago attorney general to oversee FBI document release to House," 9 Apr. 2018
Mims' autopsy report says his blood-alcohol level was .13.

— michael gordon, charlotteobserver, "Lawsuit over 2013 police shooting of Charlotte man goes to jury today | Charlotte Observer," 9 Apr. 2018
Autopsy reports showed that Byrd suffered blunt-force trauma to the head and neck.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Teens who threw sandbag from overpass sentenced in car passenger's death," 9 Apr. 2018
Last Friday, the trustee presiding over Lawrence’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy filed the final report in the case, obtained by The Blast.

— aurelie corinthios, PEOPLE.com, "Blossom's Joey Lawrence Settles Bankruptcy Case After Accumulating $355K in Debt," 9 Apr. 2018
The $3 million amount is not explicitly mentioned in the bill’s report language.

— jean chemnick, Scientific American, "2018 Budget A Mixed Bag for International Environmental Funding," 9 Apr. 2018
Roman combed through the police killing data from the Police Violence Report, verifying it with other reports and the Washington Post’s database, to get an idea of how many police killings there were in 2017.

— german lopez, Vox, "Police shootings are also part of America’s gun problem," 9 Apr. 2018
An officer was dispatched to the West U PD Lobby in regards to an identity theft report.

— Houston Chronicle, "West Univesity Place Police Department report," 9 Apr. 2018
SpaceX launched Zuma on top of its Falcon 9 rocket on January 7th, and just a day later, reports started to surface that the satellite had fallen back to Earth and burned up in the atmosphere after the mission.

— loren grush, The Verge, "SpaceX isn’t responsible for loss of Zuma spy satellite, WSJ report confirms," 9 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of report

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from reporter to bring back, report, from Latin reportare, from re- + portare to carry — more at fare

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

report Synonyms

Synonyms

bang, blast, boom, clap, crack, crash, pop, slam, smash, snap, thunderclap, thwack, whack, whomp, whump;

Related Words

thunk, wham;

clang, clangor, clank, clash;

knock, rap, tap;

blare, clamor, howl, hubbub, hue and cry, hullabaloo, outcry, roar, tumult, uproar;

report

verb

Definition of report

transitive verb

1 a : to give an account of : relate

b : to describe as being in a specified state

reported him much improved

2 a : to serve as carrier of (a message)

b : to relate the words or sense of (something said)

c : to make a written record or summary of

d (1) : to watch for and write about the newsworthy aspects or developments of : cover

(2) : to prepare or present an account of for broadcast

3 a (1) : to give a formal or official account or statement of

the treasurer reported a balance of ten dollars

(2) : to return or present (a matter referred for consideration) with conclusions or recommendations

b : to announce or relate as the result of investigation

reported no sign of disease

c : to announce the presence, arrival, or sighting of

d : to make known to the proper authorities

report a fire

e : to make a charge of misconduct against

intransitive verb

1 a : to give an account : tell

b : to present oneself

reported to the front desk

c : to account for oneself

reported sick on Friday

d : to work as a subordinate

reports to the vice president

2 : to make, issue, or submit a report

3 : to act in the capacity of a reporter

See report defined for English-language learners

Examples of report in a Sentence

The murder was reported in the national news.
Several TV stations are reporting that the police are close to making an arrest.
Their job is to report the news accurately and fairly.
He was asked to report the details of the meeting.
Tomorrow the committee will report its findings on air pollution.
The doctor reported some improvement in her condition.

Recent Examples of report from the Web

Arsenal could find themselves with a new kit supplier in 2019 after it was reported that the Gunners are in 'advanced negotiations' with Adidas over a potentially incredibly lucrative to replace the existing partnership with Puma.

— SI.com, "Arsenal in 'Advanced Negotiations' to Replace Puma With Adidas in Bumper New Kit Deal," 10 Apr. 2018
Berman's ascension fueled controversy after CNN reported that Trump had personally interviewed him in the months preceding his appointment, according to two sources.

— laura jarrett and david shortell, CNN, "Top Manhattan prosecutor recused from Cohen investigation before search warrant issued," 10 Apr. 2018
That followed India’s fraud watchdog and stock regulator starting investigations after Bloomberg News reported the brothers took at least 5 billion rupees out of the company without board approval.

— george smith alexander, Bloomberg.com, "TPG-Backed Firm Sweetens Bid for India's No. 2 Hospital Chain," 10 Apr. 2018
City officials put an initial version of the proposal on hold after The Chronicle first reported on it.

— kimberly veklerov, San Francisco Chronicle, "Oakland councilwoman renews bid to divert funds to private job centers," 8 Apr. 2018
Disturbance, Woodland Avenue: Five males were caught shooting weapons on Geauga Park District property 2:28 p.m. March 31 after a woman reported hearing gunfire.

— joan rusek, cleveland.com, "Two pigs go for a walk Easter morning in Bainbridge," 8 Apr. 2018
Just days after The Hollywood Reporter reported that the Star Wars spinoff was set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, the trailer dropped on the official Star Wars Twitter account.

— katie kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Solo: A Star Wars Story' Trailer Drops: Han Meets Lando and Chewie, Takes Millennium Falcon for a Spin," 8 Apr. 2018
But after The Washington Post reported that Trump had made his decision, Kelly began telling others the exact opposite - while still maintaining to some Trump advisers that the president’s decision had been made.

— author: ashley parker, josh dawsey, philip rucker, Anchorage Daily News, "'When you lose that power': How John Kelly faded as White House disciplinarian," 8 Apr. 2018
But after The Washington Post reported that Trump had made his decision, Kelly began telling others the exact opposite - while still maintaining to some Trump advisers that the president's decision had been made.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "'When you lose that power': How John Kelly faded as White House disciplinarian," 7 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of report

14th century

report Synonyms

Synonyms

chart, chronicle, describe, narrate, recite, recount, rehearse, relate, tell;

detail, enumerate, itemize, particularize;

bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), reveal;

delineate, depict, express, render, sketch;

Phrases

set forth;

REPORT Defined for English Language Learners

report

noun

Definition of report for English Language Learners

: a story in a newspaper or on radio or television that is about something that happened or that gives information about something
: a written or spoken description of a situation, event, etc.
: an official document that gives information about a particular subject

report

verb

Definition of report for English Language Learners

: to give information about (something) in a newspaper or on television or radio
: to tell people about (something) : to make a report about (something)
: to describe (a feeling, condition, etc.)

REPORT Defined for Kids

report

noun re·port \ ri-ˈpȯrt \

Definition of report for Students

1 : a usually complete description or statement

a weather report

a book report

2 : a written or spoken statement that may or may not be true

There are reports of a breakthrough.

3 : reputation 1

They're people of evil report.

4 : an explosive noise

the report of a gun

report

verb

Definition of report for Students

reported; reporting

1 : to give a written or spoken description of something

A witness reported what happened.

2 : to make known to the proper authorities

report a fire

3 : to complain about (someone) for misconduct

He will report the bully to the principal.

4 : to make a statement that may or may not be true

The man is reported to be all right.

5 : to prepare or present an account of something (as for television or a newspaper)

6 : to show up

He reports for work at noon.

—

reporter

noun

Synonym Discussion of report

report, describe, and narrate mean to talk or write about something. report is used of giving information to others often after some investigation has been done.

- Newspapers report important events.

describe is used of giving a clear mental picture of an event or situation.

- Students were asked to describe a day at school.

narrate means to tell a story with a beginning and an end.

- The speaker narrated a tale about pirates.

Law Dictionary

report

noun re·port

legal Definition of report

: a usually detailed account or statement: as

a : an account or statement of the facts of a case heard and of the decision and opinion of the court or of a quasi-judicial tribunal determining the case

b : a written submission of a question of law (as by a lower court) to an appellate court for review before final decision is entered

c : a usually formal and sometimes official statement giving the conclusions and recommendations of a person (as a master) or group (as a legislative committee) authorized or delegated to consider a matter or proposal

the committee made an unfavorable report on the bill

d : a usually formal account of the results of an investigation given by a person or group delegated or authorized to make the investigation

e : an analysis of operations and progress and a statement of future plans made at stated intervals by an administrator or executive or group of executives to those to whom such a report is owed