inform

in·form

Use inform in a sentence

verb

To inform is defined as to tell, give knowledge or information.

An example of to inform is someone telling a friend what time they'll arrive.

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"inform." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Inform>.

APA Style

inform. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Inform

inform

1. Obs. to give form to
2. to give character to; be the formative principle of
3. to give or inspire with some specific quality or character
Rare to form or shape (the mind); teach; instruct
to give knowledge of something to; tell; acquaint with a fact, etc.

Origin of inform

Middle English informen from Old French enformer from Classical Latin informare: see in- and form

to give information
to give information laying blame or accusation upon another

Archaic without form; formless

Origin of inform

French informe from Classical Latin informis

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MLA Style

"inform." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Inform>.

APA Style

inform. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Inform

inform

verb

in·formed, in·form·ing, in·forms

verb

transitive

a. To impart information to; make aware of something: We were informed by mail of the change in plans. The nurse informed me that visiting hours were over.
b. To acquaint (oneself) with knowledge of a subject.
a. To give form or character to; imbue with a quality or an essence: “A society's strength is measured by … its ability to inform a future generation with its moral standards” ( Vanity Fair )
b. To be a formative or characterizing presence in; animate: “It is this brash, backroom sensibility that informs his work as a novelist” ( Jeff Shear )
Obsolete To form (the mind or character) by teaching or training.

verb

intransitive

To give or provide information.
To disclose confidential or incriminating information to an authority: The defendant informed against the other members of the ring.

Origin of inform

Middle English enfourmen, informen from Old French enfourmer from Latin īnfōrmāre in- in ; see in- ². fōrmāre to fashion ( from fōrma form )

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"inform." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Inform>.

APA Style

inform. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Inform

Verb

(third-person singular simple present informs, present participle informing, simple past and past participle informed)

(archaic) To instruct, train (usually in matters of knowledge).
To communicate knowledge to.
(intransitive) To impart information or knowledge.
To act as an informer; denounce.
To give form or character to; to inspire (with a given quality); to affect, influence (with a pervading principle, idea etc.).
His sense of religion informs everything he writes.
- Dryden
  Let others better mould the running mass / Of metals, and inform the breathing brass.
- Prior
  Breath informs this fleeting frame.

Origin

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