notify

/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ/
verbIntermediate
formal

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.

informal

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

notify someone of somethingto inform someone about a specific matternotify in advanceto inform someone before an event occurs

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

notify ofphrase
to inform someone about a specific matter
notify in advancephrase
to inform someone before an event occurs

💡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.

Word Breakdown

noti-
known
root
+
-fy
to make
suffix
English Dictionary