well-read

[wel-red]

adjective

1. having read extensively (sometimes followed byin ).

   well-read in oceanography.

well-read

/ ˈwɛlˈrɛd /

adjective

1. having read widely and intelligently; erudite

Word History and Origins

Origin of well-read¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Any well-read person is likely to consider the rise of the modern nation-state to be a distinctly mixed bag, as the history of the last two or three centuries has demonstrated.

From Salon

He has been Joe Goldberg, the well-read manager of a New York City bookstore.

From Los Angeles Times

At the time, he spoke about “going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance” and praised Kai as “brilliant” and the “most well-read, the smartest Wayans.”

From Los Angeles Times

He is well-read on American history, comparing his own plight to that of the anti-Vietnam War protesters who were arrested for allegedly starting riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

From Salon

There were a handful of others, but all followed the same pattern of being erstwhile intelligent, well-read people, successful in their professional spheres, who went down the rabbit hole.

From Salon

Related Words

• bookish 
• educated 
• knowledgeable 
• literate 
• studious 
• well-informed