report

1 of 2

noun

re·port ri-ˈpȯrt

Synonyms of report next

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

: quality of reputation

a witness of good report

: a usually detailed account or statement

a news report

: an account or statement of a judicial opinion or decision

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

: an explosive noise

report

2 of 2

verb

reported; reporting; reports

transitive verb

: to give an account of : relate

: to describe as being in a specified state

reported him much improved

: to serve as carrier of (a message)

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

: 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

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

: to announce or relate as the result of investigation

reported no sign of disease

: to announce the presence, arrival, or sighting of

: to make known to the proper authorities

report a fire

: to make a charge of misconduct against

intransitive verb

: to give an account : tell

: to present oneself

reported to the front desk

: to account for oneself

reported sick on Friday

: to work as a subordinate

reports to the vice president

: to make, issue, or submit a report

: to act in the capacity of a reporter

Phrases

on report

: subject to disciplinary action

was put on report for the violation

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Hye Jung Han, a researcher at Human Rights Watch who authored the 2022 report, says that the government provided no alternative methods for those who may not have wanted to use the app. —

WIRED, 23 Jan. 2023 With 751 more fatalities on record, 84,927 Florida residents have died, according to the Florida Department of Health’s most recent report. —

Caroline Catherman, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2023 Willis has not publicly stated what her office’s argument will be in terms of making the report public. —

Holly Bailey, Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2023 The legislative committee's report held no one accountable for the lawless violence and recommended no actions. —

Kenneth C. Barnes, Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2023 Within a few hours, Stephanie Summers, a DEQ analyst, reviewed Thompson’s first quarterly report. —

Alex Baumhardt, oregonlive, 23 Jan. 2023 But none of that additional work by Marcum was referenced in the report that was delivered to lawmakers late last week. —

Andrew Brown And Dave Altimari, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2023 The documentary explores an unpublished British government report obtained by the BBC, which the British public broadcaster said came in the form of a diplomatic cable. —

Manveena Suri, CNN, 23 Jan. 2023 Still, the report generated a flurry of headlines—enough to feed the bolsonaristas’ conviction that there had been a conspiracy. —

Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2023

Verb

The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office did not report any injuries from the incident. —

Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 25 Dec. 2022 Officials did not report any deaths linked to the cold on Sunday. —

Tonya Alanez, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Dec. 2022 The Center for Strategic Communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine didn't immediately report on casualties or who was behind the blasts. —

Arkansas Online, 24 Dec. 2022 The price of ibuprofen has quadrupled in one eastern Chinese city, forcing it to sell pills individually, report David Pierson, Isabelle Qian, Olivia Wang and Tiffany May for the New York Times. —

Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2022 The Center for Strategic Communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine didn't immediately report on casualties or who was behind the blasts. —

E. Eduardo Castillo, ajc, 23 Dec. 2022 And airline trackers report dozens of flights are canceled from Ohio’s major airports. —

Jake Zuckerman, cleveland, 23 Dec. 2022 State highway officials report closed freeways and severe crashes. —

Luz Lazo, Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2022 Donors who give away more than $16,000 to anyone must report the gifts on a federal gift tax return, Form 709. —

Imani Moise, WSJ, 23 Dec. 2022 See More

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.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of report was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Report.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/report. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

report

1 of 2 noun

re·port ri-ˈpō(ə)rt

-ˈpȯ(ə)rt

: common talk : rumor

: reputation sense 1

people of evil report

: a usually detailed account or statement

a news report

wrote a report of the meeting

: an explosive noise

the report of a gun

report

2 of 2 verb

: to make a statement about or description of : relate

: to describe and discuss in a newspaper article or broadcast

report a baseball game

: to act as a reporter

report on the latest developments

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

: to make known to the proper authorities

report a fire

: to make a charge of misconduct against

report a student for lateness

: to present oneself

report for duty

: 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

: 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

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

: 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

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

: 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