apprise
1 Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Etymology
Origin of apprise
First recorded in 1685–95; from French appris “taught, informed,” past participle of apprendre; see apprehend
Explanation
To apprise someone about something is to fill them in, to give them the scoop. If someone in your immediate family wins the mega-bucks lottery, you want to be the first one to be apprised of that event! Don't confuse the verbs apprise and appraise. Appraise means to determine the value of something — either its quality or its monetary worth. Apprise, on the other hand, means to inform or make aware. This word has a rather formal, weighty tone. Presidents get apprised of foreign affairs, but you will most likely not get apprised of weather conditions or dinner plans.
Vocabulary lists containing apprise
ASVAB Word Knowledge
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Unit 1: Telling Details
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"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“We wanted to apprise incoming first-year students to be careful while embarking on their academic journey at Yale,” Hall told The Associated Press in a phone interview.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 22, 2023
A multi-agency team is conducting the investigation, he said, adding that the team will apprise authorities when they are done with the probe.
From Reuters ● Dec. 9, 2022
“We’ve had very full argument on this. I know where I’m coming out, and I want to therefore apprise the parties of that,” he said Monday.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 15, 2022
This one, for Crypto.com, stars LeBron James, who has traveled back in time to 2003 to apprise his younger self about all of the marvels that the future holds in store.
From Slate ● Feb. 14, 2022
“I’ve been expecting you. I imagine you wish to call Miss Perumal and apprise her of your situation.”
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
Discretion that is “suitably directed and limited” would “ensure … the sentencing authority is apprised of the information relevant to the imposition of sentence and provided with standards to guide its use of that information.”
From Slate ● Jun. 8, 2026
Jaishankar said he "apprised Secretary Rubio of challenges that legitimate travellers face in respect of visa issuance".
From Barron's ● May 24, 2026
Or, “I am following the guidelines of the trust and keeping little Laura’s parents apprised of all actions. If you want to discuss it, you should ask them.”
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 16, 2026
Mark Rothko apprised Newman of his own progress in 1945: “I hope that you are jealous and will be spurred to greater labors.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025
The lawyer suggested that Leila keep him apprised of anything happening in the case, such as it was.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
His complaint alleges the government obtained the warrant in bad faith, and without apprising the magistrate judge of Lindell’s role in the Colorado case.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2022
The Post on Thursday appended to Heard’s op-ed an editor’s note apprising readers of this week’s developments.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 3, 2022
"We are calling people right now apprising them of the situation so they can make other plans," he said.
From Reuters ● Jul. 3, 2014
A relative of Mr. MacLeod’s who worked in McClelland & Stewart’s warehouse was charged with apprising him of novelistic developments.
From New York Times ● Apr. 24, 2014
I could not refrain from apprising him of the extensive defections from the party ranks, and the injury his course was doing him.
From Abraham Lincoln, Volume 1 (of 2) The True Story Of A Great Life by William H. Herndon
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
