Definition

1. Noun:

   • A spoken or written account of something observed, investigated, or experienced: A formal or official statement giving details about an event, situation, or subject.
   • A piece of information or news, often from an official source: An account or statement circulated, especially in the media.
   • A sharp, loud sound, especially from a gun or explosion: The noise produced by a sudden, violent event like a gunshot.
   • A student's periodic written evaluation of academic performance: A formal document, often a card, detailing a student's grades and conduct.
   • A person's reputation or standing in public estimation: The general opinion held about someone's character.

2. Verb:

   • To give a spoken or written account of something: To tell about something you have seen, heard, done, or investigated.
   • To present oneself to a person in authority, typically for duty or assignment: To arrive and announce one's presence.
   • To make a formal complaint or accusation about someone to an authority: To inform an authority figure about a fault, crime, or wrongdoing.
   • To be responsible for providing news or information on a subject, especially as a journalist: To cover and write about events as a news reporter.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The company released its annual financial report.
  • Did you hear the weather report for tomorrow?
  • A loud report echoed from the forest.
  • My son brought home an excellent school report.
  • He is a man of good report in the community.

• Verb:

  • The journalist will report on the election results tonight.
  • New employees must report to the manager at 8 AM.
  • A neighbor reported the suspicious activity to the police.
  • She reports on science and technology for a major newspaper.

Advanced Usage

• "To report back": to return and give an account of information gathered or a task completed.

  • The committee will investigate and report back to the board next week.

• "Reported speech" (Grammar): the act of reporting what someone said by shifting tenses and pronouns (e.g., "She said she was tired").

  • In reported speech, 'I am busy' becomes 'He said he was busy.'

• "As reported by": according to the information provided by a specific source.

  • As reported by the local press, the event was a great success.

Variants and Related Words

• Reporter (n): a person who reports, especially one employed to report news for a newspaper, television, or radio station.

  • The reporter asked the mayor a tough question.

• Reportage (n): the reporting of news, or the style in which it is reported.

  • His reportage from the war zone was gripping.

• Reportedly (adv): according to what some say; allegedly.

  • The actor is reportedly considering retirement.

Synonyms

• Account (n): a report or description of an event or experience.
• Disclose (v): to make information known; to reveal.
• Notify (v): to inform someone officially about something.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Report to:

  • To be responsible to and take instructions from a supervisor.

    • In this job, you will report to the department head.
  • To go to a place or person to announce one's arrival.

    • Please report to the front desk when you arrive.

• Report on/upon: to give a detailed account or investigation about a subject.

  • The auditor will report on the company's finances.

Related Idioms

• According to report(s): as stated by news or information that is circulating.

  • According to report, the meeting has been postponed.

• Of good/bad report: having a good or bad reputation.

  • He was a gentleman of good report.

Noun

1. the general estimation that the public has for a person
   • he acquired a reputation as an actor before he started writing
   • he was a person of bad report
2. an essay (especially one written as an assignment)
   • he got an A on his composition
3. a written evaluation of a student's scholarship and deportment
   • his father signed his report card
4. a sharp explosive sound (especially the sound of a gun firing)
   • they heard a violent report followed by silence
5. a short account of the news
   • the report of his speech
   • the story was on the 11 o'clock news
   • the account of his speech that was given on the evening news made the governor furious
6. the act of informing by verbal report
   • he heard reports that they were causing trouble
   • by all accounts they were a happy couple
7. a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
   • this accords with the recent study by Hill and Dale

Verb

1. complain about; make a charge against
   • I reported her to the supervisor
2. be responsible for reporting the details of, as in journalism
   • Snow reported on China in the 1950's
   • The cub reporter covered New York City
3. make known to the authorities
   • One student reported the other to the principal
4. announce one's presence
   • I report to work every day at 9 o'clock
5. announce as the result of an investigation or experience or finding
   • Dozens of incidents of wife beatings are reported daily in this city
   • The team reported significant advances in their research
6. to give an account or representation of in words
   • Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental