peruse

[ puh-rooz ]

/ pəˈruz /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR peruse ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), pe·rused, pe·rus·ing.

to read through with thoroughness or care: to peruse a report.

to scan or browse: The shoppers perused the magazines near the cash register while waiting to check out.

to read.

to survey or examine in detail.

Nearby words

Origin of peruse

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

Related forms

pe·rus·a·ble, adjectivepe·rus·er, nounpre·pe·ruse, verb (used with object), pre·pe·rused, pre·pe·rus·ing.qua·si-pe·rus·a·ble, adjective

re·pe·ruse, verb (used with object), re·pe·rused, re·pe·rus·ing.un·pe·rus·a·ble, adjectiveun·pe·rused, adjective

Can be confusedperuse pursue

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for peruse

Recipients in a cryobank can peruse donor files and see hair color, eye color, race, height, IQ, and so on.
Have Sperm, Will Travel: The ‘Natural Inseminators’ Helping Women Avoid the Sperm Bank|Elizabeth Picciuto|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Copies of a 53-page strategic plan are on the coffee table in her office for visitors to peruse.
Obama’s Hidden Power Player|Eleanor Clift|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then I peruse my RSS feeds for Red Sox stories by my competitors.
Opening Day 2013: How to Write About Baseball in the Big Leagues|Noah Charney|March 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In the meantime, feel free to peruse the report, which can be read below.
This is the GOP's Path Forward?|Justin Green|March 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST

On one of my last days as a student, I remember taking a break to peruse the university bookstore.
Rebecca Sealfon: The Year I Won the Scripps National Spelling Bee|Rebecca Sealfon|May 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
With best wishes, and hoping we shall meet again, I leave you to peruse the pages which follow.
The Motor Boys Across the Plains|Clarence Young
She trusts that her readers will peruse this book in as friendly a spirit as it was written.
The Ladies' Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners|Eliza Leslie
Not even a boy of fourteen could peruse these words unmoved, coming, as they did, after the memorable interview with Bolland.
The Revellers|Louis Tracy
This paper Emmeline took out to peruse as soon as she had dismissed Barret.
Emmeline|Charlotte Turner Smith
"Begin to take in the daily papers and peruse the advertising column," she answered, courageously.
Vagabondia|Frances Hodgson Burnett

British Dictionary definitions for peruse

peruse

/ (pəˈruːz) /

verb (tr)

to read or examine with care; study

to browse or read through in a leisurely way

Derived Formsperusal, nounperuser, noun

Word Origin for peruse

C15 (meaning: to use up): from per- (intensive) + use

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

Word Origin and History for peruse

peruse

late 15c., "use up, wear out, go through," from Middle English per- "completely" (see per) + use (v.). Meaning "read carefully" is first recorded 1530s, but this could be a separate formation. Meaning "read casually" is from 19c. Related: Perused; perusing.