report

1 of 2

noun

re·​port ri-ˈpȯrt 

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

report

2 of 2

verb

reported; reporting; reports

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

Phrases

on report

: subject to disciplinary action

was put on report for the violation

Synonyms

Noun

• boom
• blast
• clap
• bang
• crash
• pop
• crack
• roar

Verb

• describe
• tell
• recount
• chronicle
• narrate
• relate

Examples of report in a Sentence

Noun

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.

Verb

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 on the Web

Noun

Yet that message does not appear to be getting through if the staggering numbers revealed in a new technology sector risk report are anything to go by: more than 11 million critical vulnerabilities in tech sector environments are currently exposed to the public internet. —Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

Though there were initial reports that Mansfield was decapitated in the accident, her undertaker Jim Roberts later revealed that that was untrue. —Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 29 June 2025

Verb

Participating companies reported a 53 percent decrease for dyeing for Dyeing – Line, CPB and a 390 percent for Dyeing – Line, Hotflue. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 30 June 2025

Perhaps unsurprisingly, western states, where the cost of living is often the highest in the country, reported the biggest declines in fertility rate between 2005 and 2023, the time frame analyzed by LendingTree. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing report

• annual report
• missing person report
• progress report
• report back
• report card
• report for duty
• report out
• report sick
• report stage
• report to
• self-report

Rhymes for report

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• distort
• escort
• exhort
• extort

Kids Definition

report

1 of 2 noun

re·​port ri-ˈpō(ə)rt 

-ˈpȯ(ə)rt

1

a

: common talk : rumor

b

: reputation sense 1

people of evil report

2

: a usually detailed account or statement

a news report

wrote a report of the meeting

3

: an explosive noise

the report of a gun

report

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make a statement about or description of : relate

2

a

: to describe and discuss in a newspaper article or broadcast

report a baseball game

b

: to act as a reporter

report on the latest developments

3

a

: to return or present (a matter officially given over to a committee) with conclusions and suggestions

b

: to make known to the proper authorities

report a fire

c

: to make a charge of misconduct against

report a student for lateness

4

a

: to present oneself

report for duty

b

: to work as a subordinate

reports to the vice president

Legal Definition

report

1 of 2 noun

re·​port

: 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

2 of 2 transitive verb

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