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

Example 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 Officer John Lacy, a spokesman for the department, said the Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office notified police that one of the drivers involved in the crash had died from his injuries Monday. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2025 McIver appeared remotely from Washington as Congress is in session for the initial hearing, where she was officially notified of the two counts of assaulting, resisting and impeding an officer from the May 9 skirmish outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement-run facility called Delaney Hall. Mike Catalini, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025 Government officials in a late-Tuesday hearing said that ultimately N.M. was being sent to Burma, even after being notified he was being sent to two other countries first. Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 21 May 2025 Customers are being notified about refunds via email. James Peckham, PC Magazine, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for notify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notify
Verb
  • Attendees had been informed of the location just 48 hours in advance.
    Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 31 May 2025
  • Detainees were not informed of their destination, with many fearing they were being deported, according to Jerez-Robles' family.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Whether ships will sail from homeports during storms, the cruise company advises guests and future cruisers to opt-in to text alerts to get messages regarding on schedule changes.
    Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
  • First, start with shattering functional silos, the researchers advise.
    Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Notify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notify. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on notify

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