Library / English Dictionary

INFORM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give character or essence to

Example:

The principles that inform modern teaching

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "inform" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to

Example:

I informed him of his rights

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "inform" is one way to...):

communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inform"):

acquaint; introduce; present (cause to come to know personally)

regret (express with regret)

designate; indicate; point; show (indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively)

indicate (to state or express briefly)

indicate (suggest the necessity of an intervention; in medicine)

nark (inform or spy (for the police))

explain; explicate (make plain and comprehensible)

tell (let something be known)

narrate; recite; recount; tell (narrate or give a detailed account of)

narrate (provide commentary for a film, for example)

account; describe; report (to give an account or representation of in words)

report (make known to the authorities)

cover; report (be responsible for reporting the details of, as in journalism)

announce; denote (make known; make an announcement)

disabuse (free somebody (from an erroneous belief))

point out; remonstrate (present and urge reasons in opposition)

bear witness; evidence; prove; show; testify (provide evidence for)

wise up (cause someone to become aware of something)

instruct; learn; teach (impart skills or knowledge to)

apprise; apprize; instruct (make aware of)

inoculate (introduce an idea or attitude into the mind of)

acquaint (inform)

warn (notify, usually in advance)

inform (act as an informer)

fill in (supply with information on a specific topic)

update (bring up to date; supply with recent information)

misinform; mislead (give false or misleading information to)

downplay; minimise; minimize; understate (represent as less significant or important)

betray; denounce; give away; grass; rat; shit; shop; snitch; stag; tell on (give away information about somebody)

undeceive (free from deception or illusion)

warn (notify of danger, potential harm, or risk)

advise; apprise; apprize; give notice; notify; send word (inform (somebody) of something)

acquaint; familiarise; familiarize (make familiar or conversant with)

cue; prompt; remind (assist (somebody acting or reciting) by suggesting the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned)

volunteer (tell voluntarily)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

informant (a person who supplies information)

informant (someone who sees an event and reports what happened)

information (knowledge acquired through study or experience or instruction)

information (a message received and understood)

information (a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn)

informative (providing or conveying information)

informative (serving to instruct or enlighten or inform)

informative (tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance)

informatory (providing or conveying information)

informing (a speech act that conveys information)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Act as an informer

Example:

She had informed on her own parents for years

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "inform" is one way to...):

inform (impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inform"):

evidence; tell (give evidence)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

informer (one who reveals confidential information in return for money)

informing (to furnish incriminating evidence to an officer of the law (usually in return for favors))

Credits

 Context examples: 

Such knowledge not only informs our own decisions but also helps us predict the future decisions of our partner.

(‘Mindreading’ neurons simulate decisions of social partners, University of Cambridge)

I scarcely know anyone who cannot do all this, and I am sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being informed that she was very accomplished.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

But had I been informed of it a few hours earlier—I think it is most probable—that something might have been hit on.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The models inform us about the environment where life originated and evolved.

(Scientists determine early Earth was a ‘water world’ by studying exposed ocean crust, National Science Foundation)

It might also inform development of cell culture models to study other neurodegenerative disorders.

(Human Cells Model Alzheimer’s Disease, NIH)

Mrs. Weston informed her that she was going to call on the Bateses, in order to hear the new instrument.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The lion said: They have been informed that they were going to be put to the test, and have assumed some strength.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I would rather Diana or Mary informed you.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Every one liked Laurie, and he privately informed his tutor that "the Marches were regularly splendid girls."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Before I proceed to give an account of my leaving this kingdom, it may be proper to inform the reader of a private intrigue which had been for two months forming against me.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)