inform

verb

in·​form in-ˈfȯrm 

informed; informing; informs

transitive verb

1

: to communicate knowledge to

inform a prisoner of his rights

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 : to give material form to

4

obsolete : guide, direct

5

obsolete : to make known

intransitive verb

1

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

informed on a member of his own gang

2

: to impart information or knowledge

Synonyms

• fink
• grass (on) [British slang]
• rat (on)
• sing
• snitch
• split (on) [British]
• squeak
• squeal
• talk
• tell (on)

Choose the Right Synonym for inform

inform, acquaint, apprise, notify mean to make one aware of something.

inform implies the imparting of knowledge especially of facts or occurrences.

informed us of the crisis

acquaint lays stress on introducing to or familiarizing with.

acquaint yourself with the keyboard

apprise implies communicating something of special interest or importance.

keep us apprised of the situation

notify implies sending notice of something requiring attention or demanding action.

notified the witness when to appear

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 on the Web

Loudspeakers informed customers of the strike at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, online videos purported to show. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 19 Apr. 2024

States have their own bridge design standards, many heavily informed by the state highway and transportation officials association. —Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024

If card payment numbers were stolen, inform your bank or credit card company, explaining that your card is at risk of fraud and asking them to alert you of any suspicious activity. —Kelvin Chan, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024

In the video from New York, a man who appears to be relaying a message from Google management informs the protesting workers that they have been placed on administrative leave and asks them to take the opportunity to depart peacefully. —Caroline Haskins, WIRED, 17 Apr. 2024

Over the last several years, Republican members of the committee have blocked a number of popular projects without holding public meetings to inform applicants why funding was denied. —Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024

Perhaps the show’s most riveting small work is a little bronze study of a hand, just 10 inches wide, no doubt informed by Claudel’s careful scrutiny of her own. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024

Gun deaths:Man killed, another hospitalized after Phoenix shooting The Tucson hospital informed police that the teenager died just after 6 a.m. Friday morning from the gunshot wound, officials wrote. —Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024

His teachings were rooted in a specific vision of metaphysical reality, as informed by his guru and by the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text. —Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enformer, from Latin informare, from in- + forma form

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Phrases Containing inform

• inform on/against

Kids Definition

inform

verb

in·​form in-ˈfȯ(ə)rm 

1

: to let a person know something : tell

2

: to give information so as to accuse or cause suspicion

inform against them to the police