report

The word “report” means to give an account of an event or pass on information that has been observed or heard. In plain terms, to tell someone what happened, or the account itself.

“Report” is pronounced rih-PAWT (/ɹɪˈpoɹt/ in IPA).

Here is “report” used in a sentence: “Witnesses reported seeing a car speed away from the scene.”

Depending on how it is used, “report” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “report” comes from Latin. From Latin reportare, "to carry back," from re- plus portare ("to carry") — the same root as "transport" and "portable.".

“Report” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Report” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to give an account of an event or pass on information that has been observed or heard.

To report someone is to tell an authority — police, a manager, a teacher — about something they have done wrong, so it can be dealt with officially. It differs from simply describing an event because the aim is to prompt action or accountability against that person's conduct.

To 'report to' someone means to answer to them as your supervisor, or to present yourself somewhere — 'report to the manager.' To 'report on' something means to give an account of a subject — 'report on the findings.' The preposition changes the meaning entirely, so the two are not interchangeable.

To report is to pass on an account of something seen or heard, often factually and in detail, as a journalist does. To announce is to make something known publicly and officially for the first time. You report on events that happened; you announce news you are formally revealing.

In journalism, to report means to gather facts about events and pass them on to the public through news. A reporter observes, interviews, verifies and then gives an accurate account of what happened. The emphasis is on truthful, first-hand information rather than opinion or commentary.