inform

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To tell someone about something officially or formally.

   Please inform us if your address changes.

2. 2
   verb

   To tell the police or someone in authority about another person's wrongdoing.

   A neighbor informed on the smugglers.

3. 3
   verb

   To influence or shape something such as ideas or actions.

   A strong sense of justice informs all of her work.

Common collocations

• inform the public Verb + noun

From Middle English informen, enformen, borrowed from Old French enformer, informer (“to train, instruct, inform”), from Latin īnfōrmō (“to shape, form, train, instruct, educate”), from in- (“into”) + fōrma (“form, shape”), equivalent to in- + form.

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