report
HighFormal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To give an account or description of something, often formally or officially.
A spoken or written account of something observed, investigated, or experienced; also, the act of presenting oneself to an authority or place.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it often implies a structured, often written, document. As a verb, it can imply a duty or obligation to inform. The meaning 'to present oneself' (e.g., report for duty) is a distinct phrasal usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling differences in derived forms (e.g., BrE 'reportage' vs AmE also 'reportage'). The verb 'to report to' (be subordinate to) is equally common. The noun 'report card' is AmE; BrE typically uses 'school report' or just 'report'.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries connotations of formality and official channels. Slightly stronger association with journalism in AmE.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties, with near-identical core usage patterns.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
report something (to somebody)report that...report on somethingreport doing somethingreport to somebody (for duty/authority)report something stolen/lost/missingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “report for duty”
- “on report (military/school discipline)”
- “by all accounts/reports”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A formal document detailing financial performance, project status, or market analysis (e.g., 'The Q3 sales report is due Friday.').
Academic
A structured written account of research, experiments, or findings (e.g., 'She submitted her lab report.').
Everyday
To tell someone about something you've seen, heard, or experienced (e.g., 'I need to report a leaking tap to the landlord.').
Technical
In computing, a formatted output of data from a database or system (e.g., 'Generate a user activity report.').
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The government issued a report on climate change.
- His school report showed excellent progress.
- According to eyewitness reports, the car was blue.
American English
- She spent all weekend working on the annual report.
- Did you see the weather report this morning?
- The police filed a report after the burglary.
verb
British English
- Staff must report any safety concerns to the line manager.
- The journalist will report on the election results tonight.
- He reports directly to the CEO.
American English
- You should report the suspicious activity to the police.
- The committee reported its findings to Congress.
- New employees report to HR on their first day.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I read a report about animals.
- The teacher writes a report for parents.
- Report any problems to me.
- The news report said it will rain tomorrow.
- You need to report the lost passport to the embassy.
- The company's financial report is published online.
- The research report concluded that the new drug is effective.
- Journalists were quick to report on the political scandal.
- All personnel are required to report for duty by 0800 hours.
- The commission's damning report implicated several senior officials.
- He is slated to report on the fiscal implications of the policy shift.
- Despite initial reports to the contrary, the merger negotiations are ongoing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a REPorter bringing a story back to the PORT (report) where the news office is.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A DELIVERED OBJECT (to file a report, to submit a report).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'репорт' as a direct borrowing; the standard translation is 'отчёт' or 'доклад'.
- The verb 'to report' is broader than 'докладывать'; it can mean simply 'сообщать'.
- The phrase 'report to someone' (as a manager) is 'подчиняться кому-то', not just 'отчитываться'.
- Don't confuse 'report' (noun/verb) with 'rapport' (good relationship).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'report about' (less common) vs standard 'report on'.
- Using 'report' as a countable noun without an article when needed (e.g., 'He wrote report' instead of 'He wrote a report').
- Confusing 'report to' (be accountable to) with 'report on' (give information about).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'to report to someone' primarily means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a regular verb: report - reported - reported.
'Report on' is the standard, more common collocation, especially for formal or detailed accounts. 'Report about' is sometimes used but is less idiomatic and can sound vague.
Not typically. Forms like 'reported speech' or 'reporting structure' use the verb's participle forms adjectivally, but there is no base adjective 'report'.
It's a slightly formal phrase meaning 'according to what people say' or 'as is commonly reported' (e.g., 'He is, by report, a very generous man.').
Collections
Part of a collection
Education
A2 · 50 words · School, studying and learning vocabulary.
Media and Communication
B1 · 50 words · Language for discussing media and communication.