inform on
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To tell on someone; to act as an informant against.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
In 1983, one of his friends informed on him for reading a forbidden book, and he lost his teaching job.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “inform on” mean?
To tell on someone; to act as an informant against.
Is “inform on” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.