report

To tell someone what happened or what you found out.

• Please report what you saw.
• The team reported its results yesterday.
• Several visitors reported hearing a strange noise.

How to use it: report something to someone (I reported my findings to the team.); report that… (She reported that everyone had arrived safely.)

Similar words: describe, recount, relate

Common phrases: report an incident, report the results, report to someone, report an event

To tell people about events through newspapers, television, or other news sources.

• They report the news every evening.
• The channel reported that several flights were canceled.
• She has reported on elections around the world.

How to use it: report on something (She reports on local sports.); report that… (The newspaper reported that the bridge had closed.)

Similar words: cover

Common phrases: report the news, report on something, report live

To tell a person in charge that someone has done something wrong.

• I will report you to the teacher.
• They reported the company for selling unsafe food.
• Has anyone reported the theft to the police?

How to use it: report someone for something (They reported their neighbor for dumping waste.); report someone/something to someone (She reported the driver to the police.)

Similar words: turn in, inform on

Common phrases: report someone, report a crime, report someone for

To officially tell the responsible people about a problem, event, or possible wrongdoing.

• You should report the missing bag.
• She reported the accident to her insurance company.
• Several residents have reported suspicious activity near the station.

How to use it: report something to someone (You must report the accident to your insurer.); report that… (He reported that his passport was missing.)

Similar words: notify, inform

Common phrases: report a theft, report an accident, report to someone

To go to a place and tell someone in charge that you have arrived.

• Please report to reception.
• He reported for work at seven.
• New students should report to the school office.

How to use it: report to someone/somewhere (All visitors must report to the front desk.); report for something (The soldiers reported for duty at dawn.)

Similar words: present yourself

Common phrases: report for duty, report to reception, report to someone

A spoken or written description of something that happened.

• I watched a report about the storm.
• Her report described what happened at the station.
• Have you read the latest reports from the border?

How to use it: report on something (I watched a report on the election.); report of something (We received a report of a fire nearby.)

Similar words: account, description

Common phrases: news report, report on something, report of something, report by someone

A document explaining what a study or investigation found.

• The report includes all our results.
• She wrote a report on school meals.
• Their annual reports show how the business has grown.

How to use it: report on something (The team prepared a report on water quality.)

Similar words: study

Common phrases: research report, annual report, report on something

A sudden loud sound made by a gun or an explosion.

• We heard the report of a gun.
• A sharp report echoed through the valley.
• The distant reports made the horses nervous.

Similar words: bang, crack

Common phrases: loud report, sharp report, report of gunfire