Understanding ‘Apprise’: Boost Your IELTS Score with Advanced Vocabulary
Learn the meaning, usage, and origin of the word ‘apprise’ to enhance your English proficiency for IELTS. This video covers its definition, synonyms, antonyms, and common usage errors to help you achieve a higher band score.
Imagine you’re in a high-stakes business meeting, and your colleague turns to you and says, “Can you apprise me of the situation?”
Would you know exactly what they mean? Today, we’re exploring the word apprise, a sophisticated verb that can elevate your English to the next level, particularly useful for those aiming for a band eight or higher in the IELTS exam.
Word type: Apprise is a transitive verb.
Meaning: To apprise means to inform or tell someone about something, especially in a formal or official way.
It involves making someone aware of important information or keeping them up to date with current developments.
Word history: The word apprise has an interesting etymology. It entered the English language in the fifteenth century, derived from the Old French word apris, the past participle of aprendre, meaning to learn or to teach.
This, in turn, comes from the Latin apprehendere, which means to grasp or to understand. Over time, the meaning shifted from learning to informing, reflecting how knowledge is passed from one person to another.
Synonyms: Some synonyms for apprise include inform, notify, advise, brief, and update. Each of these words carries a slightly different connotation, but they all revolve around the act of providing information.
Antonyms: Antonyms for apprise would include withhold, conceal, hide, or keep in the dark. These words represent the opposite action of informing someone.
Examples use in sentences: Let’s look at some examples of how to use apprise in sentences. The CEO asked her assistant to apprise her of any changes in the market conditions.
It is the duty of the press to apprise the public of important political developments. The lawyer made sure to apprise his client of all possible outcomes before the trial.
As team leader, she took it upon herself to apprise new members of the project’s progress. Common errors in use:
While apprise is a valuable word to add to your vocabulary, it’s important to use it correctly. One common mistake is confusing apprise with appraise.
Appraise means to assess the value or quality of something, which is quite different from informing someone.
Another error is using apprise without an object. Remember, apprise is always used with an object – you apprise someone of something.
To wrap up, mastering words like apprise can significantly enhance your English proficiency, particularly for formal or professional contexts often tested in IELTS.
It demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the language and can help you express complex ideas more precisely.
Remember, apprise means to inform formally, it comes from Old French and Latin roots meaning to learn or understand, and it’s always used with an object.
By incorporating this word into your active vocabulary, you’re taking a step closer to achieving that coveted band eight score in IELTS.
