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 According to local media reports, Dior notified the South Korean Personal Information Protection Commission about the breach. Denni Hu, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2025 The investigation has begun and the appropriate Charlotte-Mecklenburg officials have been notified, the auditor’s office said. Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2025 Sign up here to get notified, when presales start, about special offers and presale gifts. Alex Mayyasi, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025 Lucky winners will be notified starting September 29, with the box office assigning them specific time slots to purchase tickets beginning October 1. Meredith Heil Bock, AFAR Media, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for notify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notify
Verb
  • The algorithms are tuned with AI models informed by physics, allowing the sensors to adapt in real time without massive data training.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Israel had to inform the US without jeopardizing the operation.
    Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Mendoza advised King to request twice as many; Mendoza had a plan for the others.
    ProPublica, ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The players had two weeks off before the Euros, and Bronze was advised to rest.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Notify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notify. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on notify

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!