Meaning & use
report
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
To tell people about something that has happened or been found, especially in news or official channels.
Grammar: Takes an object or that-clause: report the results; or no object: report on the war.
Patterns
- report something
- report on something
- report that something
The newspaper reported the election results.
Scientists reported that the ice was melting faster.
She reports on politics for a local radio station.
verbtransitive
To tell an authority about a crime, problem or wrongdoing.
Grammar: Takes an object, often with to: report a theft to the police.
Patterns
- report something to someone
- report someone for something
He reported the theft to the police.
Students should report broken equipment to a teacher.
She reported her neighbor for dumping rubbish.
verbintransitive
To arrive at a place or person and say you are ready to begin.
Grammar: Often followed by to or for: report for duty.
Patterns
- report to someone
- report for duty
Please report to the front desk on arrival.
New recruits report for duty at six.
Visitors must report at reception.
verbintransitivebusiness
To have a manager or supervisor who gives you instructions.
Grammar: Takes to: report to the director.
Patterns
- report to someone
I report to the regional manager.
Three analysts report to her.
Who do you report to?
nouncountable
A written or spoken account giving information about a subject or event.
Grammar: Countable: a report, several reports.
Patterns
- a report on something
- a report of something
The committee published a report on school funding.
I read a news report about the fire.
Her teacher wrote a glowing report.
Word forms
| third person singular | reports |
|---|---|
| past tense | reported |
| past participle | reported |
| -ing form | reporting |
| plural | reports |
Common combinations
- report a crime
- Report a crime to the police at once.
- report back
- Please report back after the meeting.
- news report
- The news report showed the damage.
- annual report
- The firm released its annual report.
- report card
- His report card showed good grades.
- report for duty
- Staff report for duty at dawn.
Synonyms and how they differ
- announce
- Announce is a public declaration, but report passes on facts that already exist.
- describe
- Describe gives details of how something looks or happens, while report can be brief.
- account
- Account is a noun for a personal story, whereas a report is more official.
- notify
- Notify means to formally tell someone, and always has a recipient.
Opposites
Word family
- reporter noun
- a person who reports news
- reportedly adverb
- according to what is said
- reportage noun
- the act of reporting news
- reported adjective
- stated to be true
- reportable adjective
- required by law to be reported
Commonly confused: report or retort?
report vs retort
A retort is a sharp reply, not an account of facts.
Practice
If you see a lost child, you should ___ it to a staff member.
Choose one answer.
Report something to someone is the pattern for telling an authority. Retort means answer sharply and rely does not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “report”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.