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inform

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˌɪnˈfɔɹm// UK //ɪnfˈɔːm// in·form Archaic Formal General-service

v. to give someone facts or information about something. You use this when you want to tell someone about a situation officially.

v. to impart knowledge or provide specific facts to someone; to notify. In academic contexts, it can also mean to be the characteristic quality of something or to influence a decision.


SIMPLE

Please inform the manager if you are going to be late.

CONTEXTUAL

The company sent an email to inform all employees about the upcoming changes to the health insurance policy.

COMPLEX

The architect explained how historical building techniques continue to inform her modern designs, creating a bridge between traditional aesthetics and contemporary functionality.

Etymology 1

From Middle English informen, enformen, borrowed from Old French enformer, informer (“to train, instruct, inform”), from Latin īnfōrmō (“to shape, form, train, instruct, educate”), from in- (“into”) + fōrma (“form, shape”), equivalent to in- + form.

Etymology 2

From Latin īnfōrmis.

Usage

The verb is transitive and usually requires a direct object (the person being told) followed by 'of', 'about', or a 'that' clause.

Pitfall

I informed to him about the newsI informed him of the newsInform is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'to' before the person being notified.

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