inform
gb/ɪnfˈɔɹm/ us/ɪnfˈɔɹm/
B1
Anglais
~ 1900
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
B1
action
1
Give information to someone
To tell someone facts or details about something.
Schéma d’usage :
to inform [someone] [about/of something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'inform' with 'tell' and use it without specifying the person informed (e.g., 'Inform about the news' instead of 'Inform me about the news').
Synonymes
notify (Slightly more formal; often used in official contexts like letters or announcements.)
|
advise (Can imply giving both information and recommendations, not just facts.)
Antonymes
mislead (To give false or incorrect information instead of true facts.)
Collocations
inform the public
|inform someone of
|inform someone about
|inform authorities
|inform in writing
Thèmes
communication
|daily life
|business
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The teacher informed the students about the change in schedule.
- Please inform me if you cannot attend the meeting.
- The police informed the family of the accident.
- We will inform you as soon as we have more details.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The doctor informed me about my test results.
- He informed his boss about the problem.
- Please inform her if you are late.
- They informed us of the new rules.
Verbe
B2
action
2
Influence or guide development
To affect or guide how something is made or done.
Schéma d’usage :
to inform [a decision/action/design]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse this with 'inform' meaning 'give information' and incorrectly use a person as the object when referring to influence.
Synonymes
guide (Emphasizes leading or directing rather than simply influencing.)
|
shape (Highlights the act of forming or molding something's outcome.)
Antonymes
ignore (To not consider or be influenced by something.)
Collocations
inform a decision
|inform policy
|inform design choices
Thèmes
art
|thinking
|business
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- Her experiences abroad informed her approach to teaching.
- The data will inform our marketing strategy.
- Cultural traditions inform the design of these buildings.
Exemples pédagogiques
- My travel informed my ideas for the project.
- The report will inform our choice.
- His past informed his work.
Verbe
C1
action
3
Report wrongdoing to authorities
To tell the police or other authorities about someone's bad or illegal acts.
Schéma d’usage :
to inform [on/against someone]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse this with simply giving information in a neutral context, but here it specifically involves wrongdoing and often secrecy.
Synonymes
betray (Implies breaking trust when revealing information about someone.)
|
report (More general; can be public and not necessarily secretive.)
Antonymes
conceal (To hide facts instead of revealing them to authorities.)
Collocations
inform on someone
|inform against someone
Thèmes
law
|crime
|communication
Exemples
- He agreed to inform on his former partners in exchange for a lighter sentence.
- Someone must have informed against them, because they were arrested quickly.
- The spy was caught after informing on the group.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He informed on the gang.
- She informed against her boss.
- They informed on their neighbors.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
inform
API
GB/ɪnfˈɔɹm/
US/ɪnfˈɔɹm/
Syllabes et accentuation
in - form (2 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (form)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: inform
- 3rd Person Singular: informs
- Present Participle: informing
- Past: informed
Famille de mots
Forms
informs
verb
informing
verb
informed
verb
Core family
information
noun A2
informative
adjective B2
Related words
informer
noun
informant
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
disinformation
noun C1
Expressions
inform on someone
1/ɪnfˈɔɹm ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
Report secretly to authorities
To secretly tell the police or other officials about someone's bad or illegal acts.
Exemples
- He was afraid his friends might inform on him.
- They refused to inform on their colleagues.
inform someone of something
1/ɪnfˈɔɹm sˈʌmwˌʌn əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Tell someone specific information
To tell a person certain facts or details about something.
Exemples
- Please inform me of any changes to your schedule.
- The company informed employees of the new policy.
inform yourself about something
1/ɪnfˈɔɹm jʊɹsˈɛlf əbˈaʊt sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Learn about a subject yourself
To get knowledge about something by reading or asking questions yourself.
Exemples
- Before voting, you should inform yourself about the issues.
- She took time to inform herself about local customs before traveling.