report

noun re·port \ ri-ˈpȯrt \

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

The report of Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, says Yazdi died in Izmir, Turkey, due to complications from cancer.

— Washington Post, "Hundreds attend funeral of Iranian dissident politician," 31 Aug. 2017
Now, a new report in JAMA Psychiatry adds to this body of evidence by showing that older adults with a higher sense of purpose tend to retain strong hand grips and walking speeds — key indicators of how rapidly people are aging.

— judith graham, Kaiser Health News, "Soul Purpose: Seniors With Strong Reasons To Live Often Live Stronger," 31 Aug. 2017
Reality Winner is charged with copying a classified report and mailing it to an online media organization.

— russ bynum, The Seattle Times, "Ex-contractor in leak case wants FBI admission suppressed," 30 Aug. 2017
Nonetheless, the stops are straining relationships with residents, according to the report.

— jsonline.com, "Trust damaged between Milwaukee police and community, Department of Justice draft report says," 30 Aug. 2017
Some investors preferred Meg Whitman, the CEO of HP, according to reports in Recode.

— derek thompson, The Atlantic, "Why Dara Khosrowshahi Is a Smart Choice to Lead Uber," 28 Aug. 2017
Emma Roberts, on the other hand, will be playing a purely fictional character, TV Line reports.

— suzannah weiss, Teen Vogue, "Emma Roberts & Lena Dunham's "American Horror Story" Roles Announced," 27 Aug. 2017
Star-Telegram staff writer Matthew Martinez contributed to this report.

— robert philpot, star-telegram, "Big Tex Choice Awards fries up more winners," 27 Aug. 2017
Based on Indian Prairie's Illinois High School Association concussion reports, of the 84 reported concussions at the three high schools, five occurred during a non-school activity.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Big spike in District 203 concussion numbers tied to parental reporting," 26 Aug. 2017

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, crack, crash, pop, clap, 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

Near Antonyms

discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame

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

What follows are excerpts of Post reports from those eight days, which together capture the turmoil that Diana's death wrought in Britain.

— jennifer amur, Washington Post, "How Britain and the world mourned Diana, the ‘People’s Princess,’ over 8 days in 1997," 31 Aug. 2017
Altogether, more than 1,000 homes in Texas were destroyed and close to 50,000 damaged, and over 32,000 people were in shelters across the state, emergency officials reported.

— juan a. lozano, The Seattle Times, "Houston sees glimmer of hope after Harvey but threats loom," 30 Aug. 2017
Ratcliff's former probation officer, Laura Skach, testified that Ratcliff had reported having downloaded the movie the following day.

— clifford ward, Wheaton Glen Ellyn, "Ex-Wheaton College professor imprisoned for viewing film with nude children," 30 Aug. 2017
A brain cell replacement therapy reduced Parkinson’s disease symptoms in monkeys, Japanese researchers report in a study released Wednesday.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Brain cell replacement for Parkinson's boosted by monkey study," 30 Aug. 2017
Bevin declined to speak to reporters later Tuesday after an event in the Capitol, the Associated Press reported.

— tom loftus, The Courier-Journal, "Some ideas to bail out Kentucky pension are dead on arrival, House speaker says," 29 Aug. 2017
According to a New York study, as few as 1 in 24 cases of abuse against residents age 60 and older were reported to authorities.

— barbara sadick, Kaiser Health News, "Elder Abuse: ERs Learn How To Protect A Vulnerable Population," 28 Aug. 2017
Their computerized brains compare internal maps of the terrain with what their sensors report.

— david e. sanger and william j. broad, New York Times, "Trump Forges Ahead on Costly Nuclear Overhaul," 27 Aug. 2017
The city could get 10 inches of rain starting Sunday, reports CNN.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "Hurricane Harvey Is Now A Tropical Storm," 26 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of report

14th century

report Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

deliver, give, reel off, state, utter, voice; detail, enumerate, itemize, particularize; bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), reveal; delineate, depict, express, render, sketch

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

the board of directors issued its annual report to the stockholders

report

transitive verb

legal Definition of report

1 a :to make a written record or summary of

report a case

b :to make a shorthand record of

2 a :to give a formal or official account or statement of

b :to return or present (a matter officially referred for consideration) with conclusions or recommendations; specifically :report out

c :to announce or relate as the result of a special search, examination, or investigation

d :to make known to the proper authorities

reported the fire

e :to make a charge of misconduct against

reported him for harassment

intransitive verb

1 :to present oneself

reported for jury duty

2 :to make, issue, submit, or present a report

the committee will report this afternoon

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report

Definition of report

Examples of report in a Sentence

Recent Examples of report from the Web

First Known Use of report

report Synonyms

Synonyms

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REPORT Defined for English Language Learners

report

Definition of report for English Language Learners

report

Definition of report for English Language Learners

REPORT Defined for Kids

report

Definition of report for Students

report

Definition of report for Students

reporter

Synonym Discussion of report

Law Dictionary

report

legal Definition of report

report

legal Definition of report

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