report

[ ri-pawrt, -pohrt ]

noun

1. an account or statement describing in detail an event, situation, or the like, usually as the result of observation, inquiry, etc.:

   a report on the peace conference;

   a medical report on the patient.

   Synonyms: story, description

2. a statement or announcement.

   Synonyms: dispatch, bulletin

3. a widely circulated statement or item of news; rumor; gossip.
4. an account of a speech, debate, meeting, etc., especially as taken down for publication.
5. a loud noise, as from an explosion:

   the report of a distant cannon.

   Synonyms: detonation, shot

6. a statement of a student's grades, level of achievement, or academic standing for or during a prescribed period of time.
7. Computers. output, especially printed, containing organized information.
8. a statement of a judicial opinion or decision, or of a case argued and determined in a court of justice.
9. reports, Law. a collection of adjudications.
10. repute; reputation; fame:

    a man of bad report.

verb (used with object)

1. to carry and repeat, as an answer or message; repeat, as what one has heard.

   Synonyms: relay

2. to relate, as what has been learned by observation or investigation.

   Synonyms: relay

3. to give or render a formal account or statement of:

   to report a deficit.

4. to send back (a bill, amendment, etc.) to a legislative body with a formal report outlining findings and recommendations (often followed by out ):

   The committee reported out the bill.

5. to make a charge against (a person), as to a superior:

   I intend to report him to the dean for cheating.

   Synonyms: accuse

6. to make known the presence, condition, or whereabouts of:

   to report a ship missing.

7. to present (oneself ) to a person in authority, as in accordance with requirements.
8. to take down (a speech, lecture, etc.) in writing.
9. to write an account of (an event, situation, etc.), as for publication in a newspaper.
10. to relate or tell.

    Synonyms: repeat, detail, describe, recount, rehearse, narrate

verb (used without object)

1. to prepare, make, or submit a report of something observed, investigated, or the like.
2. to serve or work as a reporter, as for a newspaper.
3. to make one's condition or whereabouts known, as to a person in authority:

   to report sick.

4. to present oneself duly, as at a place:

   to report to Room 101.

report

/ rɪˈpɔːt /

noun

1. an account prepared for the benefit of others, esp one that provides information obtained through investigation and published in a newspaper or broadcast
2. a statement made widely known; rumour

   according to report, he is not dead

3. an account of the deliberations of a committee, body, etc

   a report of parliamentary proceedings

4. a statement on the progress, academic achievement, etc, of each child in a school, written by teachers and sent to the parents or guardian annually or each term
5. a written account of a case decided at law, giving the main points of the argument on each side, the court's findings, and the decision reached
6. comment on a person's character or actions; reputation

   he is of good report here

7. a sharp loud noise, esp one made by a gun

verb

1. to give an account (of); describe
2. to give an account of the results of an investigation (into)

   to report on housing conditions

3. (of a committee, legislative body, etc) to make a formal report on (a bill)
4. tr to complain about (a person), esp to a superior

   I'll report you to the teacher

5. tr to reveal information about (a fugitive, escaped prisoner, etc) esp concerning his whereabouts
6. intr to present oneself or be present at an appointed place or for a specific purpose

   report to the manager's office

7. intr to say or show that one is (in a certain state)

   to report fit

8. intrfoll byto to be responsible to and under the authority of

   the plant manager reports to the production controller

9. intr to act as a reporter for a newspaper or for radio or television
10. law to take down in writing details of (the proceedings of a court of law) as a record or for publication

Derived Forms

• reˈportable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·porta·ble adjective
• nonre·porta·ble adjective
• nonre·ported adjective
• over·re·port verb
• prere·port noun verb
• quasi-re·ported adjective
• subre·port noun
• unre·porta·ble adjective
• unre·ported adjective
• well-re·ported adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of report¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English verb reporten, from Middle French reporter, Old French, from Latin reportāre “to carry back,” equivalent to re- re- + portāre “to carry” ( port ⁵ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of report¹

C14: from Old French, from reporter to carry back, from Latin reportāre , from re- + portāre to carry

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on report, Military. (of personnel) under restriction pending disciplinary action.

Example Sentences

Stories of women who received life-saving abortion care colored politicians' appeals to Americans as the number of reports of women whose preventable deaths from pregnancy and miscarriage complications in states with abortion bans grew.

From Salon

The study reported that conjunctivitis was the second most common eye disease among the clinic visits in the study, representing exactly one-third of all the visits.

From Science Daily

In the case of semi-industrial fishing, they report that vessels fish within the three-nautical-mile zone and in marine protected areas reserved for artisanal fishing.

From Science Daily

"The industry has pushed back on most of the existing regulatory framework — anti-money laundering rules, tax reporting, even environmental emissions reporting."

From Salon

More than one in 10 Canadians report experiencing some form of homelessness in their lifetime.

From Salon

Related Words

• account for
• announce
• broadcast
• declare
• describe
• detail
• disclose
• document
• inform
• list
• mention
• note
• notify
• present
• publish
• record
• reveal
• tell

More About Report

What is a basic definition of report?

A report is a detailed account of something based on observation and research. Report is also used to mean to relay information or to appear at a destination as ordered. The word report has many other senses as a noun and a verb.

A report is a paper, article, announcement, or similar account that contains detailed information that someone has gathered through observation, study, or other research. Sometimes, another noun is used with report to specify what the report is about. For example, students often write book reports in school in which they analyze books they have read.

• Real-life examples: Businesses often create budget reports so they can figure out how much money they have to spend. Scientists compile scientific reports in which they present the results of experiments. Sports journalists often compile injury reports that list all of the players who will miss games due to injuries.
• Used in a sentence: I listened to the weather report on the news to see if I needed to bring an umbrella. 

As a verb, report means to repeat or relay information that a person has heard from another source or has gathered themselves. People who report things (such as at a news agency) are called reporters.

• Real-life examples: A journalist’s job is to report information to the public. A spy’s job is to gather secret information and report it to their boss. Scientists will report things they have learned to scientific journals or to the news media.
• Used in a sentence: The tabloid magazine reported sightings of Bigfoot in the woods. 

Report is also used to mean to go to a specific place because you were ordered to.

• Used in a sentence: General Harris ordered the recruits to report to basic training in the morning.

Where does report come from?

The first records of the verb report come from around 1325. It ultimately comes from the Latin reportāre, meaning to carry. The first records of the noun report come from around 1425. It comes from the Middle French report.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to report?

• reporter (noun)
• reportable (adjective)
• nonreportable (adjective)
• nonreported (adjective)
• overreport (verb)
• prereport (verb, noun)
• quasi-reported (adjective)
• subreport (noun)
• unreportable (adjective)
• unreported (adjective)
• well-reported (adjective)

What are some synonyms for report?

• account
• statement
• summary
• broadcast
• detail
• disclose
• appear
• arrive

What are some words that share a root or word element with report? 

• reporter
• reportedly
• reportage
• report card

What are some words that often get used in discussing report?

• news
• scientific
• financial
• budget
• weather
• book
• progress

How is report used in real life?

Report is a very common word that often means a detailed account or to disclose information.

In a new report, the International Criminal Court confirmed a reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed in the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte’s merciless war on drugs https://t.co/MgWt69WUIm

— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) December 15, 2020

Over 500 people have been hospitalized and at least one person killed by an unidentified illness in southern India. People have suddenly started to convulse. Nausea and loss of consciousness have been reported. Experts are still baffled by the cause. https://t.co/nmJ2XwPmNZ

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 8, 2020

After today, I'll be awaiting the call to report to basic training!

— Jake Wetherell (@Wetherell4cast) February 2, 2014

Try using report!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym of report?

A. detail
B. broadcast
C. hide
D. disclose