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REFERENCE

informing

v. · adj.
US //ˌɪnˈfɔɹmɪŋ// UK //ɪnfˈɔːmɪŋ// in·form·ing
  1. 1 giving information (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    telling someone about a fact or a situation.

    the act of providing specific information or notifying a party of a fact.

    Example

    The company sent a letter informing all employees about the new office hours.

    Example

    Informing the stakeholders of the potential risks early in the process allowed the project manager to mitigate several critical issues before they escalated.

    Usage

    Often followed by a direct object and a prepositional phrase starting with 'of' or 'about'.

  2. 2 educational (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Literary

    providing useful knowledge or helping you learn.

    serving to inform, educate, or provide insight. This usage is largely replaced by 'informative' in modern contexts.

    Example

    The old professor gave an informing lecture that changed how I saw the world.

    Example

    The author provided an informing account of the revolution, weaving personal anecdotes with rigorous historical analysis in a manner typical of nineteenth-century prose.

    Teacher's tip

    This adjectival sense is rare in modern English; students should use 'informative' instead.

    • uninformative

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