inform

¹

[ in-fawrm ]

verb (used with object)

1. to give or impart knowledge of a fact or circumstance to:

   He informed them of his arrival.

   Synonyms: tell, advise, notify, apprise

2. to supply (oneself) with knowledge of a matter or subject:

   She informed herself of all the pertinent facts.

   Synonyms: acquaint

3. to give evident substance, character, or distinction to; pervade or permeate with manifest effect:

   A love of nature informed his writing.

4. to animate or inspire.
5. Obsolete.
   1. to train or instruct.
   2. to make known; disclose.
   3. to give or impart form to.

verb (used without object)

1. to give information; supply knowledge or enlightenment:

   a magazine that entertains more than it informs.

verb phrase

1. to furnish incriminating evidence about (someone) to an authority, prosecuting officer, etc.:

   He informed on his accomplices.

inform

²

[ in-fawrm ]

adjective

, Obsolete.

1. without form; formless.

inform

¹

/ ɪnˈfɔːm; ɪnˈfɔːmɪdlɪ /

verb

1. tr; often foll by of or about to give information to; tell
2. tr; often foll by of or about to make conversant (with)
3. intr; often foll by against or on to give information regarding criminals, as to the police, etc
4. to give form to
5. to impart some essential or formative characteristic to
6. tr to animate or inspire
7. obsolete.
   tr
   1. to train or educate
   2. to report

inform

²

/ ɪnˈfɔːm /

adjective

1. archaic.
   without shape; unformed

Derived Forms

• informedly, adverb
• inˈformable, adjective
• inˈformingly, adverb

Other Words From

• in·forma·ble adjective
• in·forming·ly adverb
• half-in·forming adjective
• half-in·forming·ly adverb
• unin·forming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inform¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English enfo(u)rmen, informen, from Old French enfo(u)rmer, from Latin infōrmāre “to form, shape,” equivalent to in- in- ² + fōrmāre “to form ”

Origin of inform²

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin informis “formless, deformed,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + -formis -form

Word History and Origins

Origin of inform¹

C14: from Latin informāre to give form to, describe, from formāre to form

Origin of inform²

C16: from Latin informis from in- ¹+ forma shape

Example Sentences

Trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation said he had wanted his private collection to be used to inform and inspire people.

From BBC

Here, costume designers Grace Snell and Jacqueline Durran discuss how the locations and turbulence in each story inform the vibrant looks.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, several organizations expressed concern about how much it will cost to inform immigrant residents, provide legal representation to those facing deportation, resist federal infringement and advance local policies that will bolster protections for immigrants.

From Los Angeles Times

Dealerships were not acting outside of the rules and regulations of the industry by taking this sort of commission at that time, but they had a duty to inform their clients and inform them about the commission.

From BBC

The Police Ombudsman’s office will inform them of its conclusions on Tuesday.

From BBC

Related Words

• advise
• apprise
• brief
• caution
• educate
• instruct
• notify
• tell
• update
• warn