to look at carefully so as to understand the meaning of (something written, printed, etc.).
to read a book;
to read music.
to utter aloud or render in speech (something written, printed, etc.): The actor read his lines in a booming voice.
He spent the evening reading a story to his children.
The actor read his lines in a booming voice.
to have such knowledge of (a language) as to be able to understand things written in it.
to be able to read French.
to apprehend the meaning of (signs, characters, etc.) otherwise than with the eyes, as by means of the fingers.
to read Braille.
to apprehend or interpret the meaning of (gestures, movements, signals, or the like).
to read a semaphore;
to read sign language.
to make out the character or significance of by scrutiny or observation.
I read the cloudy sky as the threat of a storm.
A fisherman should be skilled in reading a stream for potential pools.
to anticipate, expect, or calculate by observation.
At the line of scrimmage, the quarterback read a blitz and called an audible.
to foresee, foretell, or predict.
to read a person's fortune in tea leaves.
to make out the character, motivations, desires, etc., of (a person or persons), as by the interpretation of outward signs.
to interpret or attribute a meaning to (a written text), a musical composition, etc.).
How do you read this clause in the contract?
to infer (something not expressed or directly indicated) from what is read, considered, or observed.
He read an underlying sarcasm into her letter. In your silence I read agreement to my plan.
to adopt or give as a reading in a particular passage.
For “one thousand” another version reads “ten thousand.”
to substitute or replace (a particular word or phrase) in a written text, usually to correct an error.
Read “cavalry” for “calvary.”
to check (printers' proofs, copy, etc.) for errors; proofread.
to register or indicate, as a thermometer, clock, etc.
Computers. to obtain (data, programs, or control information) from an external storage medium or some other source and place in memory.
British. to study (a subject), as at a university.
to read law.
to read the work of (an author).
She is reading Kafka.
to learn by or as if by reading.
to read a person's thoughts.
to hear and understand (a transmitted radio message or the person transmitting it); receive.
I read you loud and clear.
to bring, put, etc., by reading.
to read oneself to sleep.
to give one (a lecture or lesson) by way of admonition or rebuke.
to discover or explain the meaning of (a riddle, dream, etc.).
Slang.
to perceive (someone) as a particular gender, as cisgender, or as transgender.
People keep reading me as a woman when I wear lipstick and as a man when I don't.
Since I had top surgery, strangers usually read me as cis.
to perceive (someone) as transgender or as the gender they were assigned at birth, especially when they do not wish to be so percieved.
I was really happy with how I looked last night but getting read really upset me.
to read or peruse written or printed matter.
to utter aloud or render in speech written or printed words that one is perusing.
to read to a person.
to give a public reading or recital.
to inspect and apprehend the meaning of written or other signs or characters.
to occupy oneself seriously with reading or study.
to obtain knowledge or learn of something by reading.
to admit of being read, especially properly or well.
to have a certain wording.
to admit of being interpreted.
a rule that reads in two different ways.
to register or indicate particular information, as the status or condition of something.
Her blood pressure is reading a little low today.
to have an effect or make an impression; show forth.
Those battle photographs read with great impact.
Computers. to read data, programs, or control information.
an act or instance of reading.
Give the agreement a careful read before you sign it.
something that is read.
Her new novel is a wonderful read.
read out
to read aloud, as for someone's attention.
Computers. to retrieve (information) from a computer.
read up on to learn about by reading; gather information on; research by reading.
You'd better read up on World War I before taking the history test.
read out of to oust from membership in (a political party or other group) by a public announcement of dismissal.
He was read out of the association because of alleged subversive activities.
read in to place (data, programs, or control information) in memory.
George, 1733–98, American political leader: served in the Continental Congress 1774–77.
Sir Herbert, 1893–1968, English critic and poet.
a male given name: from an Old English word meaning “red.”
to comprehend the meaning of (something written or printed) by looking at and interpreting the written or printed characters
to be occupied in such an activity
he was reading all day
to look at, interpret, and speak aloud (something written or printed)
he read to us from the Bible
(tr) to interpret the significance or meaning of through scrutiny and recognition
he read the sky and predicted rain
to read a map
(tr) to interpret or understand the meaning of (signs, characters, etc) other than by visual means
to read Braille
(tr) to have sufficient knowledge of (a language) to understand the written or printed word
do you read German?
(tr) to discover or make out the true nature or mood of
to read someone's mind
to interpret or understand (something read) in a specified way, or (of something read) to convey a particular meaning or impression
I read this speech as satire
this book reads well
(tr) to adopt as a reading in a particular passage
for ``boon'' read ``bone''
(intr) to have or contain a certain form or wording
the sentence reads as follows
to undertake a course of study in (a subject)
to read history
read for the bar
to gain knowledge by reading
he read about the war
(tr) to register, indicate, or show
the meter reads 100
(tr) to bring or put into a specified condition by reading
to read a child to sleep
(tr) to hear and understand, esp when using a two-way radio
we are reading you loud and clear
computing to obtain (data) from a storage device, such as magnetic tape Compare write
(tr) to understand (written or printed music) by interpretation of the notes on the staff and to be able to reproduce the musical sounds represented by these notes
informal to censure or reprimand, esp in a long-winded manner
to perceive or deduce a meaning that is hidden or implied rather than being openly stated
informal an expression of dismay, disgust, or disbelief
matter suitable for reading
this new book is a very good read
the act of reading
having knowledge gained from books (esp in the phrases widely read , well-read )
to take something for granted as a fact; understand or presume
First recorded before 900; Middle English reden, read(en), reid(e), Old English rǣdan “to counsel, read”; cognate with Dutch raden, German raten, Old Norse rātha; akin to Sanskrit rādhnoti “(he) achieves”; see also rede ( def. ), riddle 1
First recorded in 1570–80; past participle of read 1
To read is to scan and understand letters and words, making sense of language. You can also read into something, interpreting a meaning. Usually a verb, read can also be a noun, as in “That book is a quick read.” There are several different roots credited with being the ancestor of read, each with different meanings. One meant "to counsel and advise," which might remind you of having your fortune read by a fortune teller, while another meant "gather up," which is what you do with the information a book you read contains.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“What was meant to be a joyful family camping trip became an unimaginable nightmare that no parent, sibling, or grandparent should ever have to endure,” the page read.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
"Seeing it in writing that you were a victim of modern slavery and trafficking is very... it's really shocking to read," she told PA Media.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
Why does this keep happening?” one question read.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
Any read on this space that leaves China out is only reading half the trade.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
The cortex is where you think, remember, learn, imagine, read, speak, listen, and dream.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
Read: SpaceX’s first-ever earnings report is a big deal — but not because of the numbers.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026
Read: The world is facing its largest oil shock ever.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
Read on for top stories of the week, from the Journal and elsewhere.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Read: The rising cost of capital for companies today is starting to spook the stock market: ‘The worry is the spending might not pay off’
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
“So. Let us begin. Simple procedure. Come up one at a time. Reach into this bag. Take one slip of paper. Read it out loud.”
From "The City of Ember" by Jeanne DuPrau
Its headline reads "Dad, let the world see us together".
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
The weekend is upon us, and so we have some great reads for you, a fun quiz, and everything you need to figure out if you should go see one of the year’s biggest movies.
From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2026
“We will explore all available options to ensure we can serve the tens of thousands of Angelenos who depend on our service,” the statement reads.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
“These are not schools teetering at the edge of success,” reads the report, which cites publicly available state and local education data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
She reads it and ushers us straight out the back door and into the rear seat of a car.
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
Meanwhile, the employment index reading of 52.8 is up 3.1 percentage points from June’s figure of 49.7, putting the index in expansion territory for the first time in 33 months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
A former straight-A student who had dropped out of high school, he had embarked on a program of self-education, reading deeply in African American history, Greek philosophy, finance and other subjects.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Another image shows Suu Kyi cutting a birthday cake, and another shows the cake with text reading: "Happy Birthday Aunty Suu."
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
It's high praise from the hottest author around at the moment and Cavanagh is quick to return the compliment and also talk about other local authors who he thinks people should be reading.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
It’s my reading chair now, but before that, it was our bedtime chair.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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.
