sight-read
verb (used with or without object)
to read, play, or sing without previous practice, rehearsal, or study of the material to be treated.
sight-reading
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a word derived from
sight-read.
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a word form of
sight-read.
sight-readverb (used with or without object)to read, play, or sing without previous practice, rehearsal, or study of the material to be treated.
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.
"My least favourite thing in music exams was sight-reading, so these guys are just amazing," adds Smith.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
"In this exam: She needs to play three pieces by memory, two pieces read music, technique requirements in major, minor scales, ear training, sight-reading, rhythm clap back, listening and playback and etc."
From Fox News ● Sep. 5, 2021
When she entered NYU and had her first big audition, she botched her sight-reading despite years of practice, setting her on a different course — to teach English as a second language.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 22, 2020
I’ve never, ever, ever seen anybody who had her sight-reading abilities.
From The New Yorker ● Oct. 28, 2019
He began with sight-reading and mastering basic rhythms and pitches that gradually increased step by step to become more complex, sometimes by adding only one new note or rhythmic value at a time.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
