misread

American  

[mis-reed] / mɪsˈrid /

verb (used with or without object)

misread, misreading

1. to read wrongly.

2. to misunderstand or misinterpret.

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misread British  

/ ˌmɪsˈriːd /

verb

1. to read incorrectly

2. to misinterpret

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Other Word Forms

• misreader
  noun

Etymology

Origin of misread

First recorded in 1800–10; mis- ¹ + read ¹

Explanation

To misread something is to read it but understand it in the wrong way. If you misread an article about local politics, you might end up supporting a candidate whose views you don't actually agree with. When you interpret a book, online article, or magazine story incorrectly, you misread it. You can also misread people, when you don't understand how they feel or what they intend: "She tended to misread cranky customers at the coffee shop, thinking they were joking when they were actually angry about something." The prefix mis- means "bad" or "wrong," and read can mean both "comprehend printed matter" or "make out a person's character."

Example Sentences

Misread it, and the draft would punt you to the rear.

From Washington Post • Feb. 27, 2011

Subs not used Guzan, L Young, Beye, Sidwell, Delph, Delfouenso Chelsea 4-1-4-1 Petr Cech – 6 Misread Downing's dangerous cross, which was not his most convincing moment as Carew waited to pounce.

From The Guardian • Apr. 10, 2010

The accompanying Sermons on "Misread Passages of Scripture" form part of a series which the author projected, but which through ill health he has been unable to complete.

From Misread Passage of Scriptures by Brown, James Baldwin

Misread, mis-rēd′, v.t. to read wrongly: to misinterpret.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

War sure hath ceased; or have my erring eyes Misread the glorious visions of the skies?

From The Columbiad by Barlow, Joel

Related Words

• confuse
• miscalculate
• misconstrue
• misinterpret
• misjudge