notify

Definition of notifynext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb notify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of notify are acquaint, apprise, and inform. While all these words mean "to make one aware of something," notify implies sending notice of something requiring attention or demanding action.

notified the witness when to appear

When can acquaint be used instead of notify?

Although the words acquaint and notify have much in common, acquaint lays stress on introducing to or familiarizing with.

acquaint yourself with the keyboard

When might apprise be a better fit than notify?

In some situations, the words apprise and notify are roughly equivalent. However, apprise implies communicating something of special interest or importance.

keep us apprised of the situation

When could inform be used to replace notify?

While in some cases nearly identical to notify, inform implies the imparting of knowledge especially of facts or occurrences.

informed us of the crisis

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of notify The Wall Street Journal reported that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sent a letter to Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei notifying the company of the restrictions. Richard Hall, Time, 13 June 2026 The 51-year-old’s identity will be released by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office once next of kin are notified. Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026 Hawthorne Race Course has notified Illinois regulators of the potential for 290 layoffs if the horse track is not sold to continue operations. Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026 The department also does not call relatives simply to notify them that someone is in jail. Tori Mason, CBS News, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for notify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notify
Verb
  • But another four or five weeks of games can inform Weiss and Anthopoulos’ own answer.
    Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 16 June 2026
  • McGregor Scott, Williamson’s attorney, said he had not been informed of any other investigations involving his client.
    Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Residents attending outside events were advised by the city’s alert system to monitor weather conditions and seek shelter if lightning or strong winds develop.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 June 2026
  • Jon Hyman, chair of the employment and labor practice at the Wickens Herzer Panza law firm, advises his clients to trust individual managers to work out arrangements on a case-by-case basis.
    Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 14 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Notify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notify. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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