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Synonyms

peruse

American

[puh-rooz] / pəˈruz /

verb (used with object)

to read through with thoroughness or care.

Make sure you peruse the document before signing.
to scan or browse: Visitors will be able to peruse artworks by young people across the state.

Sometimes I peruse the magazines near the cash register while waiting to check out.
Visitors will be able to peruse artworks by young people across the state.
to read.

If romantic plots interest you, consider perusing her latest novel.
to survey or examine in detail.

We had the opportunity to hear both sides and peruse the evidence.

peruse British

/ pəˈruːz /

verb

to read or examine with care; study
to browse or read through in a leisurely way

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of peruse

First recorded in 1470–80 in the sense “use up, go through”; first recorded in 1525–35 for current senses; per- + use

Explanation

Traditionally, peruse has meant to read or examine something carefully. But informally, it can have the opposite meaning, to read something casually and quickly. To understand the two meanings, think about the way people like to talk about doing things thoroughly, even when they aren't. If you are visiting a library or a bookstore, you might find yourself perusing the shelves. Synonyms are browse and skim. Peruse is from Middle English perusen "to use up," from the Latin prefix per- "thoroughly" plus Middle English usen "to use."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing peruse

Romeo and Juliet

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The Hunger Games

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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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.

But the only architectural feats eliciting "oohs" and "aahs" this autumn morning are of the sponge variety, as enthusiasts peruse the gravity-defying gateaux from the city's gourmands.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

In 2020, a house hunter in Boise, Ida., could peruse over 20 properties for sale before encountering one listed for $1 million or more.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

Visitors pose for pictures in a tunnel formed by dozens of Louis Vuitton trunks and peruse archival handbags, perfumes and runway collections.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025

One thing that makes cryptocurrency so different is that because it is on the blockchain, the transaction list is accessible to anyone who knows how to peruse it.

From Slate • Mar. 28, 2025

“There. If you can find your name on that list, you are welcome to peruse the stacks at your leisure.”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023