{
    "term": "inform",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "inform",
            "heSheIt": "informs"
        },
        "pastSimple": "informed",
        "pastParticiple": "informed",
        "ingForm": "informing"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to tell somebody about something, especially in an official way",
            "sensetop": "inform somebodyinform somebody of somethinginform somebody about somethinginform somebody that…inform somebody + speechinform somebody when, where, etc…",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The government took this decision without consulting Parliament or **informing the public**.",
                    "contextForm": "inform somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Have the police been informed?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Please inform us of any changes of address.",
                    "contextForm": "inform somebody of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He went to inform them of his decision."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The leaflet informs customers about healthy eating.",
                    "contextForm": "inform somebody about something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I have been **reliably informed** *(= somebody I trust has told me)* that the couple will marry next year.",
                    "contextForm": "inform somebody that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I am pleased to inform you that you have won first prize in this month’s competition."
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘He's already left,’ she informed us.",
                    "contextForm": "inform somebody + speech"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I have not been informed when the ceremony will take place.",
                    "contextForm": "inform somebody when, where, etc…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Inform me at once if there are any changes in her condition."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A notice informed the guests that formal dress was required."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I am not advising you. I am merely informing you of the situation."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I regret to inform you that you have been unsuccessful in your application."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many people questioned whether patients were informed adequately of the risks."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Next time you decide to take some action, kindly inform me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Students are clearly informed that lateness will not be tolerated."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The clinic is required to inform the patient about possible alternative treatments."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We will immediately inform you of any changes to the programme."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I am reliably informed that there are plans to close this school."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The newspaper had done little to inform its readers about the desperate poverty prevailing in New Orleans."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Crime and punishment"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["merely", "simply", "regularly"],
                "verb + inform": ["be pleased to", "regret to", "be required to"],
                "preposition": ["about", "of"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to find out information about something",
            "sensetop": "inform yourself (of/about something)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We need time to inform ourselves thoroughly of the problem."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to have an influence on something",
            "sensetop": "inform something",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Religion informs every aspect of their lives."
                },
                {
                    "text": "These guidelines will be used to inform any future decisions."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪnˈfɔːm/",
                "audio": "in/inform/inform__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪnˈfɔːmz/",
                "audio": "in/inform/informs__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪnˈfɔːmd/",
                "audio": "in/inform/informed__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪnˈfɔːmɪŋ/",
                "audio": "in/inform/informing__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪnˈfɔːrm/",
                "audio": "in/inform/inform__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪnˈfɔːrmz/",
                "audio": "in/inform/informs__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪnˈfɔːrmd/",
                "audio": "in/inform/informed__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪnˈfɔːrmɪŋ/",
                "audio": "in/inform/informing__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English enforme, informe ‘give form or shape to’, also ‘form the mind of, teach’, from Old French enfourmer, from Latin informare ‘shape, fashion, describe’, from in- ‘into’ + forma ‘a form’."
}