report

report — verb

1. to tell someone about something that has happened, especially after finding out

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to tell someone about something that has happened, especially after finding out the facts or details

Example

The news channel reported the earthquake within minutes of the event.

Quan reported to his manager that the sales team had met its monthly target.

report + that-clause for giving information

Common collocations
  • report + to + person
  • report + that-clause
  • report + on + topic
Synonyms
  • announce

    more public and formal; often for news or official statements

  • describe

    focuses on giving details rather than facts or findings

  • state

    more direct and factual, without narrative detail

Grammar Patterns

report + noun phrase + to + person

report + that-clause

Common Mistakes

She reported about the accident to the police.
She reported the accident to the police.
report takes a direct object, not a prepositional phrase with 'about'.

2. to be talked about in news or by people as doing or being something, even though

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to be talked about in news or by people as doing or being something, even though there is no certain proof

Example

The actor is reported to have left the awards ceremony early.

passive: be reported to + infinitive for unproven claims

Élise was reportedly seen arguing with a woman outside the theater.

Common collocations
  • reportedly
  • be reported to be
  • be reported to have
Synonyms
  • rumored

    less formal, focuses on word-of-mouth rather than news

  • alleged

    stronger implication of wrongdoing or denial

Grammar Patterns

be reported + to-infinitive

be reported + to be + noun/adjective

reportedly + verb

Usage Note

Commonly used in the passive voice (be reported to) or with the adverb reportedly. The grammatical subject is the person or thing being talked about, not the speaker or journalist.

Common Mistakes

They reported the singer to be dating a model.' (when meaning unproven rumor)
The singer is reported to be dating a model.
for unproven claims, use the passive construction.

3. to tell someone in authority about a wrong, illegal, or harmful action that has

3.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to tell someone in authority about a wrong, illegal, or harmful action that has happened

Example

Tariro reported the noise from the construction site to the city council.

report + [problem] + to + [authority] for complaints

Mira reported a stolen wallet to the police station on Green Street.

Common collocations
  • report + to the police
  • report + for misconduct
  • report + anonymously
Synonyms
  • complain

    less formal; does not necessarily go to an official authority

  • denounce

    more formal and public, often moral or political

Grammar Patterns

report + person + to + authority

report + problem/incident + to + authority

Common Mistakes

I reported about the noise to the police.
I reported the noise to the police.
report takes a direct object (the problem or person), not the preposition 'about'.

4. to present yourself at a named location and notify the responsible person of you

4.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to present yourself at a named location and notify the responsible person of your presence, especially for work, military duty, or a scheduled meeting

Example

New employees must report to the human resources office on their first day.

report to [place] for arrival and check-in

Owen reported for duty at the training center at six in the morning.

Common collocations
  • report for duty
  • report to work
  • report to reception
  • report for training
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

report + to + person/place

report + for + duty/work

report + at + location

Usage Note

Always intransitive. The object of the preposition to is a place, person in charge, or position — never a document or information. This sense is more common in military, workplace, and travel contexts.

Common Mistakes

I reported the office at 9 AM.
I reported to the office at 9 AM.
when presenting yourself, use the preposition 'to'.

report — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Report, announce, describe, state, and disclose all involve giving information, but they differ in purpose and formality. Report is the most general — it means telling facts after finding them out, often in a formal or professional setting. Announce is more public and ceremonial; you announce news, a decision, or an event to a wide audience. Describe focuses on giving details about the appearance, qualities, or sequence of something, without necessarily having investigated it. State is direct and concise, used for declaring facts or opinions in a clear, often formal way. Disclose implies revealing something that was previously private or secret. For example: The journalist reported the election results. The mayor announced the new policy. She described the sunset in vivid colors. He stated his name and address. The company disclosed the details of the deal.

announce ↗describe ↗state ↗disclose ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • according to reports
  • report on the situation
  • submit a report

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Report comes from the Latin word reportare, meaning 'to carry back.' It is formed from re- ('back') and portare ('to carry'). The word passed into Old French as reporter before entering English in the 1300s. The original image is of carrying information from one place back to another — a fitting origin for a word about conveying news and findings. The noun form developed from the verb in the 1400s.