notify

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb notify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of notify are acquaint, apprise, and inform. While all these words mean "to make one aware of something," notify implies sending notice of something requiring attention or demanding action.

notified the witness when to appear

When can acquaint be used instead of notify?

Although the words acquaint and notify have much in common, acquaint lays stress on introducing to or familiarizing with.

acquaint yourself with the keyboard

When might apprise be a better fit than notify?

In some situations, the words apprise and notify are roughly equivalent. However, apprise implies communicating something of special interest or importance.

keep us apprised of the situation

When could inform be used to replace notify?

While in some cases nearly identical to notify, inform implies the imparting of knowledge especially of facts or occurrences.

informed us of the crisis

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of notify When eligibility ends, FEMA notifies survivors approximately seven days prior to their checkout date. Wlos Staff, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025 Officials said she was born on June 15, 1959 and that her family has been notified. Nicole Acosta, People.com, 8 Jan. 2025 The department publicly acknowledged the security breach on Monday via a letter intended to notify lawmakers of the incident. Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Dec. 2024 School rules on gender In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents whose children change their gender identification at school. David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for notify 

Thesaurus Entries Near notify

Cite this Entry

“Notify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notify. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on notify

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