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Glite Dictionary
to report on

to report on

580 3.3
To give information about something, often in news or meetings
  • phrasal verb
  • /rɪˈpɔrt ɑn/
  • Literature
translation icon : informar sobre
  • As a journalist, she regularly reports on local events for the community newspaper.
  • an article reports on
  • a paper reports on
  • report on a study

Stanford, but I'm not going to report on that at the moment.

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Examples

  • And then when people report on that, well, that's important news.

    H3 Podcast

  • I will make my report on the patrol, ma'am.

    The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

  • Why not report on this in the Rise and launch review?

  • And we're going to report on the the US one now.

  • Today, of course, report on what the executive branch did last year.

  • I'd like a daily report on his activities.

    Step Up (2006)

  • I'll expect your full report on my desk by morning.

    On Deadly Ground (1994)

  • A television newscast is doing a report on congressional reaction to the events of the day.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • As agreed, here is my report on Rosefield Palace and Margot Parson's vision.

    Emmanuelle (2024)

  • In June, America's Watch issued a scathing report on human rights abuses in Mexico.

    Academic text (1990)

Synonyms

to report
vsto report on
∞ 1.6

To give information about something, often in writing or speech

is a formal, detailed account often produced by journalists or observers
to describe
vsto report on
∞ 1.0

To use words to show what a person or thing is like

is a formal public account aimed at official audiences rather than a private picture
to cover
vsto report on
  • Literature
954 3.3

To report on a news event or topic

is a focused formal account that gives specific detailed information

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to suppress
176 4.8

To stop public protest by force or by people in power

How Detailed

to investigate
∞ 2.8
to document
365 3.4
to describe
∞ 1.0
to report on
  • Literature
580 3.3
to cover
  • Literature
954 3.3
to mention
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

report on infinitive
reported on past
reported on past participle
reporting on present participle
reports on third person singular

Morphology

report + on

The meaning 'to give a detailed or formal account about X' is directly derivable from combining 'report' (to give an account) with the preposition 'on' (indicating the topic). This verb + preposition pattern is a regular, cross-linguistic way to mark the subject of reporting, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb report on comes from the image of someone making a report about a topic, where on points to the thing being described. So, it means 'to give a full or official description' of that topic.