notify
The system will notify you when the update is ready.
This means the system will send you a message when the update is complete.
to give someone official or formal information about something
The company notified its employees about the policy changes.
The company informed its employees about the new policies.
Often used in legal, business, or official contexts.
to alert someone about an event or update, often through digital means
My phone notified me about a new message.
My phone alerted me that I had received a new message.
Common in technology and everyday communication.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Use
Use 'notify' in formal contexts like legal or business settings, while in casual conversation, 'inform' or 'alert' may be more natural.
Gold Rule
Subject-Object Structure
'Notify' typically follows the structure 'notify [someone] of [something]'. For example, 'The manager notified the team of the meeting.'
Word Origin
From Latin 'notificare', meaning 'to make known', from 'notus' (known) + 'facere' (to make).
Usage Notes
Can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but formal usage often implies official communication.