inform
pronunciation
How to pronounce inform in British English:
UK [ɪnˈfɔːm]
How to pronounce inform in American English:
US [ɪnˈfɔːrm]
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- Verb:
- impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to
- give character or essence to
- act as an informer
Word Origin
- inform
- inform: [14] When English first acquired inform (via Old French enfourmer) it was used simply for ‘give form or shape to’. However, its Latin original, informāre (a compound verb based on forma ‘form’), had in classical times moved on from the primary notion of ‘shaping’ via ‘forming an idea of something’ and ‘describing it’ to ‘telling or instructing people about something’. English took this sense over too, and has persevered with it, but ‘give shape to’ was dropped in the 17th century.=> form
- inform (v.)
- early 14c., "to train or instruct in some specific subject," from Old French informer "instruct, inform, teach," and directly from Latin informare "to shape, form," figuratively "train, instruct, educate," from in- "into" (see in- (2)) + formare "to form, shape," from forma "form" (see form (n.)). Varied with enform until c. 1600. Sense of "report facts or news" first recorded late 14c. Related: Informed; informing.
Example
- 1. So clearly , if you 're going to inform on your colleagues , you need to tread carefully .
- 2. By may the time had come to inform the dealers of their plans .
- 3. We are sorry to inform you applications are closed .
- 4. Treasury must inform congress in writing about any such move .
- 5. The virtue rating will inform a consumer how well they are doing according to the values which they espouse .