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

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Present

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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."

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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.

See Examples For:

peruse peruses perused perusing

You can learn more and vote here, plus read some delightful bios on the bears in the running or peruse its hall of champions.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

He is unlikely to donate a volume to the library at this early stage of his premiership, but if he finds time to peruse the shelves, he will find an eclectic collection.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

If I’m traveling and visiting family, I’ll peruse their library and borrow something that seems interesting.

From Slate ● Mar. 8, 2026

It is increasingly becoming a social network, where users go to peruse work by multiple authors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 1, 2026

“Sheriff Snyder, I must confess, this is the first time I’ve seen such a headline. Might I borrow your newssheet to peruse the story at my leisure?”

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

My wife peruses L.A. condo listings frequently and the two of us have periodically gone with a Los Angeles real-estate agent to see new listings.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 30, 2025

It’s a recent quiet Monday morning at a West Hollywood vegetarian restaurant where we meet and Victor, who uses they/she pronouns and identifies as queer, peruses the menu with a mix of curiosity and enthusiasm.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2025

The 17-year-old from Manchester enjoys deciphering the messages behind plates - phrases like YOU 105T are popular - and peruses Facebook groups where different combinations are shared.

From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2025

Anyone who peruses Reddit regularly can’t miss the bots: As one user commented recently, “Pay attention to a lot of the new posts—they all start off the same. ‘

From Slate ● Dec. 27, 2024

The general picks up a page from the folder and peruses it.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

As anyone who perused the many clever protest signs could see, there were many reasons why Americans turned out.

From Salon ● Nov. 28, 2025

It’s meant to be picked up, perused and admired.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

Along Hollywood Boulevard on Tuesday afternoon, Canadian tourist Harpreet Kaur, 24, perused shops with her cousins and uncle in tow.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2025

He says he perused various theatre scripts and Second Best caught his eye.

From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2025

I devoured the books they lent me: then it was full satisfaction to discuss with them in the evening what I had perused during the day.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

“We like perusing and we like looking at flights sometimes.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

When I die, I will not feel like the time spent perusing Amazon search results was important to my story.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

Young men and women mingled freely, perusing works of contemporary art and design objects while a band played live music in the background.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 27, 2025

Not surprisingly, a perfect Sunday for Wareheim involves shopping for plants and perusing rock yards and quarries, though he won’t divulge exactly where.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 28, 2025

“You have serious problems,” he said, perusing a stack of papers on the table.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

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