report
rih-PAWT
Report (verb) means to give an account of an event or pass on information that has been observed or heard. Example: “Witnesses reported seeing a car speed away from the scene.”
verb
1
To give an account of an event or pass on information that has been observed or heard.
"Witnesses reported seeing a car speed away from the scene."
"She reported the results of the survey to the committee."
"The radio presenter reported that the road was closed after the storm."
2
To formally notify authorities about wrongdoing, an incident, or a concern.
"He reported the theft to the police the same night."
"You should report a lost passport to the nearest embassy."
"Neighbours reported a smell of gas to the fire brigade."
3
To be accountable to someone in a workplace hierarchy.
"All the regional managers report to the head of sales."
"I report to the manager of the second-floor office."
"Three junior designers report directly to her."
4
To present oneself somewhere at a required time.
"New recruits must report for duty at 6 a.m."
"Visitors must report to reception when they arrive at the building."
"Please report to the gate at least an hour before departure."
noun
1
A written or spoken account describing something, usually presented to someone else.
"The engineer submitted a detailed report on the bridge's condition."
"The teacher wrote a short report about each pupil at the end of term."
"Read the weather report before you plan a picnic."
2
A loud, sharp sound, especially from a gun going off.
"A loud report echoed across the valley as the hunter fired."
"The report of the starting pistol made the runners leap forward."
"A sharp report from the firework startled the dog."
How to use report
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo tell someone what happened, or the account itself.
Common pairings
file a report
report to the police
report for duty
annual report
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Word forms
- Plural
- reports
- Third person singular
- reports
- Past tense
- reported
- Archaic forms
- reportest, reportedst, reporteth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Witnesses _____ seeing a car speed away from the scene.
Etymology
From Latin reportare, "to carry back," from re- plus portare ("to carry") — the same root as "transport" and "portable."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for report
See all rhymes for report →Frequently asked questions
What does “report” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “report”?
“Report” is pronounced rih-PAWT (/ɹɪˈpoɹt/ in IPA).
How do you use “report” in a sentence?
Here is “report” used in a sentence: “Witnesses reported seeing a car speed away from the scene.”
What part of speech is “report”?
Depending on how it is used, “report” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “report” come from?
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.".
Is “report” a common word?
“Report” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “report” have?
“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.
What does it mean to report someone?
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.
What is the difference between 'report to' and 'report on'?
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.
What is the difference between report and announce?
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.
What does it mean to report as a journalist?
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.
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