read

SayREEDUS/ɹid//ɹiːd/

Verbreads, reading, read

Noun pluralreads

22 meanings of read

Practice

1
go through textverbtransitive or intransitive
To look at written words and understand what they say, for example in a book or in a writer's works.
Like turning marks on a page into ideas in your mind.
She can read a whole book in a single afternoon.
He learned to read when he was only five years old.
UsageIn the past, read sounds like red.
2
say aloudverbtransitive or intransitive
To say out loud the words that are written down.
Please read the next sentence to the rest of the class.
Every night, parents read to their young children.
UsageRead to someone, or read aloud.
3
contain wordsverbtransitive
To have certain words written on or in it.
Both signs read 'No Entry' in big red letters.
Her tattoo reads 'never give up' across her wrist.
UsageLike says: the sign reads 'Stop'.
Similarsay, run
4
interpretverbtransitive
To understand what something means or what someone intends, from signs or clues.
Like guessing how someone feels from the look on their face.
She could read the worry on his face right away.
Good poker players read their opponents very quickly.
UsageOften read something as: read it as a no.
Similarunderstand
5
nouncountablein compounds
A book, story, or article that someone reads.
Like a movie you watch, but made of words on a page.
This book is a fun read for kids.
He picked out a few easy reads for the trip.
UsageSay a book is a good read.
6
nouncountable
An act of reading something, like an actor's lines or saved computer data.
The director asked for one more read of the opening scene.
A quick read of the sensor gave us the temperature.
UsageYou can have a read of something.
Note
7
verbtransitive
To get data from a disk, drive, or other storage.
The computer could not read the damaged disk.
This program reads files from a memory card.
Similaraccess, retrieve
Oppositewrite
Note
8
verbtransitive or intransitive
To sound or be understood in a certain way, or to show a certain value.
These gauges read zero when the machine is switched off.
Her message read as rude, even though she meant well.
UsageOften reads well or reads like something.
Similarinterpret
Note

Less common meanings

9
nouncountable
The way a person understands or sees something.
Like your own opinion about what is really happening.
My read of the situation is that he wants to leave.
What's your read on the new manager?
UsageSay your read on something.
Similartake, interpretation, impression, view, assessment
Note
10
hear (radio)verbtransitive
To be able to hear someone clearly over a radio.
Like hearing a friend clearly on a phone call.
Do you read me over the radio?
I can read you loud and clear from here.
UsageSay Do you read me?
Similarhear, receive, copy
Note
11
real meaningverbhumorousironicimperative
Used to point out the real, blunter meaning hiding behind softer words.
He wants 'some space' (read, he wants to break up).
They call it 'budget-friendly' (read, cheap and poorly made).
UsagePut the real meaning right after it: read: layoffs.
Note
12
a put-downverbtransitive
To point out someone's faults in a funny or mean way, often in front of other people.
Like teasing a friend by naming every little thing they got wrong.
My friends love to read me for my terrible singing.
She read him in front of everyone for wearing socks with sandals.
UsageYou read a person.
Similarroast, drag, diss, mock
Note
13
nouncountable
A funny or mean comment that points out someone's faults.
Like a joke that lands because it names exactly what you got wrong.
Telling him his haircut came free with a burger was a brutal read.
Her reads always make the whole group laugh.
Similardig, burn, jibe, put-down
Note
14
verbCommonwealthtransitive
To study a subject at a college or university.
She went to Oxford to read law.
He hopes to read history at university next year.
UsageSay read history at university.
Similarstudy, learn
Note
15
parliamentverbtransitive
To formally present a proposed law to lawmakers at one of the fixed steps on its way to becoming law.
In our state, lawmakers must read a bill three times before it can become law.
The new school bill was read for the first time on Monday.
UsageA bill is read a first, second or third time.
16
correctionverbtransitive
To put the correct word in place of a wrong one in a written text.
On page ten, for 'form' read 'from'.
The note told us: for 'no' read 'now'.
UsageSay for X read Y.
Note
17
DNA sequencenouncountable
A string of DNA or RNA letters that a sequencing machine has worked out.
Like one piece of a puzzle that joins with others to show the full picture.
The machine produced one read with very few errors.
Scientists lined up the short reads to build the whole sequence.
Note
18
see as transgenderverbtransitive
To tell that someone is transgender from how they look or sound.
Strangers sometimes read her as trans because of her voice.
As a trans man, he worried that people would read him the moment he spoke.
UsageOften read someone as trans.
Similarclock
Note
19
plan moves (Go)verbtransitive
In the game Go, to picture future moves in your mind without placing any stones.
Strong players read several moves ahead before placing a stone.
At her first Go class, the teacher told her to stop and read before putting down each stone.
Similarcalculate
Note
20
verbobsolete
To say something out loud, or to tell or declare it.
But read how art thou named, and of what kin.
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, read means to tell or say out loud.
Note
21
verbobsolete
To think or believe that something is true.
Note
22
verbobsolete
To give someone advice, or to tell them what they should do.
This is the wandring wood, this Errours den, / A monster vile, whom God and man does hate: / Therefore I read beware.
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, read means advise, telling someone what they should do.
[T]herfore / I red the [thee] / gete the [thee] to Gods vvorde ãd [and] therby trye all doctrine and agenſt that receave nothinge.
1528, William Tyndale, “The .IIIJ. Senses of yͤ Scripture”Here, red means advise, telling someone what to do.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of read apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English rǣdan, meaning "to advise or interpret," from older Germanic words for "advise, counsel."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Read derives from Old English rǣdan. en.wiktionary.org
Old English rǣdan meant to advise or interpret. mro.massey.ac.nz
Rǣdan derives from older Germanic forms meaning advise or counsel. en.wiktionary.org