Send word to all our allies vs Update

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Send word to all our allies

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Update

Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Most common: Update
 Send word to all our alliesUpdate
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //sɛnd wɜːd tʊ ɔːl aʊə ˈæl.aɪz//🇺🇸 //sɛnd wɜrd tʊ ɔl aʊr ˈæl.aɪz//🇬🇧 /["/ˌʌpˈdeɪt/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪts/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪd/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌʌpˈdeɪt/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪts/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪd/","/ˌʌpˈdeɪtɪŋ/"]/
MeaningTell everyone on our team something important.To make something new or better.
ExampleWe need to send word to all our allies about the upcoming event.Please update the software to the latest version.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-B1
Part of speechverb
Collocationssend word to someone, send word out, send a message, send a signal, send updatesconstantly, continually, continuously, try to, need to, on, to, with, constantly, continually, continuously, try to, need to, on, to, with
Antonyms-degrade, downgrade
Common mistakesUsing 'sentence' instead of 'send' when referring to sending a message., Confusing 'word' for plural or collective phrases instead of a single message.Confusing 'update' with 'upgrade', which means to improve or enhance something., Using 'updating' as a noun, instead of 'update'., Omitting the object when saying 'I will update' — it should be clear what is being updated.
Usage notesUse in contexts where you need to inform a group or share news. Appropriate in both casual and formal situations.Use 'update' when talking about changing information to reflect new details. It's appropriate in both personal and professional contexts, but avoid using it in overly casual conversations.

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Send word to all our allies

Frequently asked questions: Send word to all our allies vs Update

What's the difference between Send word to all our allies and Update?

Send word to all our allies: Tell everyone on our team something important. Update: To make something new or better.

Which is more common: Send word to all our allies and Update?

Update is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Send word to all our allies: We need to send word to all our allies about the upcoming event. Update: Please update the software to the latest version.

Can I use Send word to all our allies and Update interchangeably?

Not always. Send word to all our allies and Update are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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