reading
noun
the action or practice of a person who reads.
Showing results for "reading"
- present participle of read.
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Slang dictionary results for reading.
reading
1 American
[ree-ding]
/ ˈri dɪŋ /
noun
-
readings
plural
-
the action or practice of a person who reads.
-
Speech. the oral interpretation of written language.
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the interpretation given in the performance of a dramatic part, musical composition, etc..
an interesting reading of Beethoven's 5th Symphony.
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the extent to which a person has read; literary knowledge.
a man of wide reading.
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matter read or for reading.
a novel that makes good reading.
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the form or version of a given passage in a particular text.
the various readings of a line in Shakespeare.
-
an instance or occasion in which a text or other matter is read or performed, usually without elaborate preparation and often as a means of testing its merits.
The playwright wants to have a reading of the play for prospective producers.
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an interpretation given to anything.
What is your reading of the situation?
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the indication of a graduated instrument.
The reading is 101.2°F.
adjective
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pertaining to or used for reading.
reading glasses.
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given to reading.
the reading public.
Reading
2
American
[red-ing]
/ ˈrɛd ɪŋ /
noun
-
Rufus Daniel Isaacs, 1st Marquis of, 1860–1935, Lord Chief Justice of England 1913–21; viceroy of India 1921–26.
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a city in Berkshire, in S England.
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a city in SE Pennsylvania.
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a town in E Massachusetts, near Boston.
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a city in SW Ohio.
reading
1
British
/ ˈriːdɪŋ /
noun
-
-
the act of a person who reads
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( as modifier )
a reading room
a reading lamp
-
-
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ability to read
-
( as modifier )
the reading public
a child of reading age
-
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any matter that can be read; written or printed text
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a public recital or rendering of a literary work
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the form of a particular word or passage in a given text, esp where more than one version exists
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an interpretation, as of a piece of music, a situation, or something said or written
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knowledge gained from books
a person of little reading
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a measurement indicated by a gauge, dial, scientific instrument, etc
-
parliamentary procedure
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the formal recital of the body or title of a bill in a legislative assembly in order to begin one of the stages of its passage
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one of the three stages in the passage of a bill through a legislative assembly See first reading second reading third reading
-
-
the formal recital of something written, esp a will
Reading
2
British
/ ˈrɛdɪŋ /
noun
-
a town in S England, in Reading unitary authority, Berkshire, on the River Thames: university (1892). Pop: 232 662 (2001)
-
a unitary authority in S England, in Berkshire. Pop: 144 100 (2003 est). Area: 37 sq km (14 sq miles)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of reading
First recorded before 900; Middle English redyng (gerund), Old English rǣdinge; see read 1, -ing 1, -ing 2
Explanation
You can use the noun reading for something you read and also the act of interpreting or understanding it. Your favorite reading might be science fiction — if you're a true fan, you spend hours reading it daily. There are many closely-related definitions of reading, from a live performance like a poetry reading or a minister's Bible reading, to an individual interpretation of written material, like your feminist reading of classic fairy tales. Meter readers also take readings, or measurements: "The readingshowed that we used much more electricity last month." There are, in addition, several towns in the UK and the US called Reading, but those are usually pronounced redding.
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:
A reading of 120 over 80, measured in millimeters of mercury, could indicate prehypertension.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
His article should be required reading for all high school athletes, their parents, coaches, and athletic directors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
It's part of her campaign to promote and protect the value of reading and to stop us becoming a culture of screen addicts.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
“I told him that the second pickup game in Slovenia, what I saw from him, just understanding the game better, reading the game, I think he improved a lot in the summer,” Doncic said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
Ford turns to the room and says, “All right, everyone, clean up your area. It’s quiet reading time now. Come pick out your books, please.”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
At its heart is the Audre D. Carlin Reading Room, where visitors can request items from the library and archive, including recordings of every production staged at the Globe since the mid-1990s.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
Appeared in the October 8, 2026, print edition as 'Is Reading A Dead Letter?'.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Archer was a supporter of the Queen's Reading Room charity.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Thirlwall also said she was "busy writing" a second album after a busy summer of festival performances, including slots at Reading and Leeds in August.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
I tell him, “It’s all right, Alfredo. Please don’t worry. I will teach you how to read. Reading is as important as writing.”
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
Hilo excluded readings for hours at a time, particularly when I was exercising or on the go.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
If asked, I probably would have told you I was feeling a little tired, wired, or off-kilter, so none of those readings were all that revelatory.
From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026
The one-month win rate for the S&P 500 following readings of between 27 and 43 on the VIX is 70%, Colas said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 4, 2026
Researchers used a digital blood pressure device to collect three sets of three measurements, with 30 seconds between individual readings.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
He wants to read each book and watch each film in between readings.
From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick
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.
