• (America) IPA: /ɪnˈfɔɹm/
• (RP) IPA: /ɪnˈfɔːm/

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

inform (informs, present participle informing; simple past and past participle informed)

1. (archaic, transitive) To instruct, train (usually in matters of knowledge).
2. (transitive) To communicate knowledge to.
   • 1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC ↗:

     For he would learn their business secretly, / And then inform his master hastily.

   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act IV, scene i]:

     I am informed thoroughly of the cause.

3. (intransitive) To impart information or knowledge.
4. To act as an informer; denounce.
5. (transitive) 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.

   • 1697, Virgil, “The Sixth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC ↗, page 397 ↗, lines 1169-1170:

     Let others better mould the running mass / Of metals, and inform the breathing brass

6. (obsolete, intransitive) To make known, wisely and/or knowledgeably.
7. (formal, transitive) To direct, guide.

   Don't forget the code of ethics that informs this profession.

8. (archaic, intransitive) To take form; to become visible or manifest; to appear.
   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act II, scene i]:

     It is the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes.

• (communicate knowledge to (trans.)) acquaint, apprise, notify; See also Thesaurus:inform
• (act as informer) dob, name names, peach, snitch; See also Thesaurus:rat out
• (take form) materialize, take shape; See also Thesaurus:come into being

• French: informer
• German: informieren, mitteilen, benachrichtigen, Bescheid sagen
• Italian: informare
• Portuguese: informar
• Russian: сообща́ть
• Spanish: informar, enterar, reportar

• French: informer, instruire
• German: informieren
• Portuguese: informar

• French: dénoncer
• German: denunzieren
• Russian: доноси́ть
• Spanish: delatar

• French: informer

inform (not comparable)

1. Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.
   • 1765, Charles Cotton, “Wonders of Peake”, in Poetical Works, page 342:

     Bleak Crags, and naked Hills,
     And the whole Prospect so inform and rude