inform
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to give someone information or tell them about a fact.
to impart knowledge or communicate specific facts to a person. Transitive — requires a direct object, often followed by 'of' or a 'that' clause.
Simple“Please inform the office if your contact details change during the year.”
In context“The company failed to inform its shareholders of the potential risks before the merger was finalised.”
PitfallI informed him the news. I informed him of the news.When you tell someone about a specific topic using 'inform', you must use the preposition 'of'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
to be the main idea or feeling that influences how something is made or done.
to imbue with a quality or to be the characterising force behind an action, theory, or creative work.
Simple“Her research on climate change helped inform the government's new laws.”
In context“A deep sense of social justice informs every chapter of the author's latest novel, providing a moral framework for the characters' choices.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
to give information to the police or authorities about someone who has done something wrong.
to provide incriminating information about a person to the authorities. Intransitive — typically used with the preposition 'on'.
Simple“He was afraid that his business partner might inform on him to the police.”
In context“The witness was reluctant to inform on his associates, fearing retaliation from the criminal organisation.”
UsageUsually takes the preposition 'on' followed by the person being reported.
Usage inform future · fully inform · inform design
“The score should inform your decision – not make it.”
“Other banks may inform their EU-based clients that they cannot keep their account open.”
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.
From Latin īnfōrmis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.