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

However, after Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine informed fellow signatories that its application of the treaty in the occupied areas would be is "limited and is not guaranteed".

From BBC

The researchers note that this greater understanding of the connection between diabetes onset, obesity, and dementia may help inform targeted interventions to prevent dementia.

From Science Daily

As climate patterns intensify, understanding flood risk is becoming essential for both homebuyers seeking to make informed choices and policymakers aiming to safeguard communities and manage the impact on real estate markets.

From Science Daily

These definitions can also inform policy decisions regarding resource allocation, reimbursement, and quality-improvement initiatives, shaping the delivery of healthcare services.

From Science Daily

The workers, however, were not provided with any information about air quality, health risks or protective measures to help them make an informed decision for themselves, she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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