notify

[noh-tuh-fahy]

verb (used with object)

notified, notifying 

1. to inform (someone) or give notice to.

   to notify the police of a crime.

   Synonyms: tell, advise, apprise

2. Chiefly British.,  to make known; give information of.

   The sale was notified in the newspapers.

notify

/ ˈnəʊtɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to inform; tell

2. to draw attention to; make known; announce

Other Word Forms

• notifier noun
• notifiable adjective
• prenotify verb (used with object)
• renotify verb (used with object)
• unnotified adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of notify¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English notifien, from Middle French notifier, from Latin nōtificāre, from (g)nōt(us), past participle of (g)nōscere “to come to know” ( know ¹ ) + -ificāre -ify

Word History and Origins

Origin of notify¹

C14: from Old French notifier, from Latin notificāre to make known, from nōtus known + facere to make

Example Sentences

“We apologize to our guests for any inconvenience this may cause and will reach out to those with affected reservations to notify them of their options, including a refund,” Spirit Airlines said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

Under the ruling, the parents who sued were entitled to a preliminary injunction that would require schools to “notify them in advance” when one of the disputed storybooks would be used in their child’s class.

From Los Angeles Times

According to an online statement from Sansum Clinic, officials were notified of the post by concerned patients and immediately conducted a review of the video.

From Los Angeles Times

Parents voluntarily notify their local authority that they are home educating their children unless they have withdrawn their child from school, so the total figure may be higher.

From BBC

The chipmaker was notified by the US government that its authorisation to export advanced technology to China would be revoked by the end of the year.

From BBC

Related Words

• advise 
• alert 
• announce 
• apprise 
• brief 
• caution 
• declare 
• disclose 
• give 
• reveal 
• suggest 
• telephone 
• tell 
• warn