read
verb (used with object)
to look at carefully so as to understand the meaning of (something written, printed, etc.).
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Readi.
read
1 American
[reed]
/ rid /
verb (used with object)
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reads,
present (3rd person singular)
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read,
past participle, past
-
reading
present participle
-
to look at carefully so as to understand the meaning of (something written, printed, etc.).
to read a book;
to read music.
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to utter aloud or render in speech (something written, printed, etc.): The actor read his lines in a booming voice.
He spent the evening reading a story to his children.
The actor read his lines in a booming voice.
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to have such knowledge of (a language) as to be able to understand things written in it.
to be able to read French.
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to apprehend the meaning of (signs, characters, etc.) otherwise than with the eyes, as by means of the fingers.
to read Braille.
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to apprehend or interpret the meaning of (gestures, movements, signals, or the like).
to read a semaphore;
to read sign language.
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to make out the character or significance of by scrutiny or observation.
I read the cloudy sky as the threat of a storm.
A fisherman should be skilled in reading a stream for potential pools.
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to anticipate, expect, or calculate by observation.
At the line of scrimmage, the quarterback read a blitz and called an audible.
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to foresee, foretell, or predict.
to read a person's fortune in tea leaves.
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to make out the character, motivations, desires, etc., of (a person or persons), as by the interpretation of outward signs.
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to interpret or attribute a meaning to (a written text), a musical composition, etc.).
How do you read this clause in the contract?
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to infer (something not expressed or directly indicated) from what is read, considered, or observed.
He read an underlying sarcasm into her letter. In your silence I read agreement to my plan.
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to adopt or give as a reading in a particular passage.
For “one thousand” another version reads “ten thousand.”
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to substitute or replace (a particular word or phrase) in a written text, usually to correct an error.
Read “cavalry” for “calvary.”
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to check (printers' proofs, copy, etc.) for errors; proofread.
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to register or indicate, as a thermometer, clock, etc.
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Computers. to obtain (data, programs, or control information) from an external storage medium or some other source and place in memory.
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British. to study (a subject), as at a university.
to read law.
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to read the work of (an author).
She is reading Kafka.
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to learn by or as if by reading.
to read a person's thoughts.
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to hear and understand (a transmitted radio message or the person transmitting it); receive.
I read you loud and clear.
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to bring, put, etc., by reading.
to read oneself to sleep.
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to give one (a lecture or lesson) by way of admonition or rebuke.
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to discover or explain the meaning of (a riddle, dream, etc.).
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Slang.
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to perceive (someone) as a particular gender, as cisgender, or as transgender.
People keep reading me as a woman when I wear lipstick and as a man when I don't.
Since I had top surgery, strangers usually read me as cis.
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to perceive (someone) as transgender or as the gender they were assigned at birth, especially when they do not wish to be so percieved.
I was really happy with how I looked last night but getting read really upset me.
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verb (used without object)
-
reads,
present (3rd person singular)
-
read,
past participle, past
-
reading
present participle
-
to read or peruse written or printed matter.
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to utter aloud or render in speech written or printed words that one is perusing.
to read to a person.
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to give a public reading or recital.
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to inspect and apprehend the meaning of written or other signs or characters.
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to occupy oneself seriously with reading or study.
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to obtain knowledge or learn of something by reading.
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to admit of being read, especially properly or well.
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to have a certain wording.
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to admit of being interpreted.
a rule that reads in two different ways.
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to register or indicate particular information, as the status or condition of something.
Her blood pressure is reading a little low today.
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to have an effect or make an impression; show forth.
Those battle photographs read with great impact.
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Computers. to read data, programs, or control information.
noun
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reads
plural
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an act or instance of reading.
Give the agreement a careful read before you sign it.
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something that is read.
Her new novel is a wonderful read.
verb phrase
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read out
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to read aloud, as for someone's attention.
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Computers. to retrieve (information) from a computer.
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read up on to learn about by reading; gather information on; research by reading.
You'd better read up on World War I before taking the history test.
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read out of to oust from membership in (a political party or other group) by a public announcement of dismissal.
He was read out of the association because of alleged subversive activities.
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read in to place (data, programs, or control information) in memory.
read
2
American
[red]
/ rɛd /
adjective
Read
3
American
[reed]
/ rid /
noun
-
George, 1733–98, American political leader: served in the Continental Congress 1774–77.
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Sir Herbert, 1893–1968, English critic and poet.
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a male given name: from an Old English word meaning “red.”
read
1
British
/ riːd /
verb
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to comprehend the meaning of (something written or printed) by looking at and interpreting the written or printed characters
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to be occupied in such an activity
he was reading all day
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to look at, interpret, and speak aloud (something written or printed)
he read to us from the Bible
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(tr) to interpret the significance or meaning of through scrutiny and recognition
he read the sky and predicted rain
to read a map
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(tr) to interpret or understand the meaning of (signs, characters, etc) other than by visual means
to read Braille
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(tr) to have sufficient knowledge of (a language) to understand the written or printed word
do you read German?
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(tr) to discover or make out the true nature or mood of
to read someone's mind
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to interpret or understand (something read) in a specified way, or (of something read) to convey a particular meaning or impression
I read this speech as satire
this book reads well
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(tr) to adopt as a reading in a particular passage
for ``boon'' read ``bone''
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(intr) to have or contain a certain form or wording
the sentence reads as follows
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to undertake a course of study in (a subject)
to read history
read for the bar
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to gain knowledge by reading
he read about the war
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(tr) to register, indicate, or show
the meter reads 100
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(tr) to bring or put into a specified condition by reading
to read a child to sleep
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(tr) to hear and understand, esp when using a two-way radio
we are reading you loud and clear
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computing to obtain (data) from a storage device, such as magnetic tape Compare write
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(tr) to understand (written or printed music) by interpretation of the notes on the staff and to be able to reproduce the musical sounds represented by these notes
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informal to censure or reprimand, esp in a long-winded manner
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to perceive or deduce a meaning that is hidden or implied rather than being openly stated
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informal an expression of dismay, disgust, or disbelief
noun
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matter suitable for reading
this new book is a very good read
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the act of reading
read
2
British
/ rɛd /
verb
adjective
-
having knowledge gained from books (esp in the phrases widely read , well-read )
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to take something for granted as a fact; understand or presume
read
More Idioms
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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readsimple
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readssimple
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have readperfect
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has readperfect
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am readingprogressive
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are readingprogressive
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is readingprogressive
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have been readingperfect progressive
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has been readingperfect progressive
Past
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readsimple
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had readperfect
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was readingprogressive
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were readingprogressive
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had been readingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of read1
First recorded before 900; Middle English reden, read(en), reid(e), Old English rǣdan “to counsel, read”; cognate with Dutch raden, German raten, Old Norse rātha; akin to Sanskrit rādhnoti “(he) achieves”; see also rede ( def. ), riddle 1
Origin of read2
First recorded in 1570–80; past participle of read 1
Explanation
To read is to scan and understand letters and words, making sense of language. You can also read into something, interpreting a meaning. Usually a verb, read can also be a noun, as in “That book is a quick read.” There are several different roots credited with being the ancestor of read, each with different meanings. One meant "to counsel and advise," which might remind you of having your fortune read by a fortune teller, while another meant "gather up," which is what you do with the information a book you read contains.
Vocabulary lists containing read
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Mother's Day Words: What Mothers Do
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Spelling Practice 1, Unit 5
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I nearly fell off my chair when I read the number: 27.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
During the first day of the inquest, a statement from the maintenance man was read out to the court.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
“All detainees are provided with proper meals, water, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers,” the statement read.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Rays of hope are always welcome in this dark era, but there are at least three reasons to think the authors’ case—and the optimistic read on the future of American alliances writ large—has some holes.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
Only steps from my grandparents’ picnic table, it was duck-hunting Ethan of my failed first-ever date, wearing basketball shorts and a shirt that read Chickasaw Pride.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Read our article, which includes what a dating and relationship coach thinks.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Read archived story: It could take years for oil prices to return to $67 a barrel.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
Read more about the history of the parade.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Read: Medicare Advantage plans will be cheaper next year.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
Read it for yourself in Note 2 on page 170.
From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen
When not lobbying reporters or working on his case, he reads the news and takes walks, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
A structure called the ribosome then reads the RNA sequence three letters at a time.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
I can’t promise you lower gas prices, but my colleagues have put together some fun evening reads that might at least help lower your blood pressure:
From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2026
He assumes that, these days, the public goes to see movies or plays, watches television, or reads books either to avoid this dismal reality or absolve themselves from it.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
He takes the files from me and reads the names out loud: “Silas DuBois, Mickey Shea.”
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Singapore's air quality levels too dipped into the "very unhealthy" range with a reading of 209 on the Air Quality Index in Friday afternoon, according to the IQAir website.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
A reading of 100 corresponds to the options market pricing roughly six basis points of daily movement in Treasury yields over the following month.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
A former NFL player named John Urschel decided to do some light reading this week, and for him that meant leafing through the latest math papers from OpenAI about topics such as the Riemann hypothesis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Sally Phillips, actor and narrator of the newly reissued Winnie-the-Pooh audiobooks, launched the campaign earlier by reading to schoolchildren at a phone box library in Chartham, Kent.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
I put that one on top of the mailbox outline so I don’t have to see it, and then I settle into the maroon one with Dad’s novel to try reading it again.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
