red

RED/ɹɛd/

Adjectiveredder, reddest

Noun pluralreds

25 meanings of red

Practice

1
colored that wayadjective
Having the color of blood or strawberries, or in cards, being a heart or a diamond.
Like the color of a fire engine or a ripe tomato.
She wore a bright red dress to the party.
My little brother rides a red bike with a shiny bell.
UsageSay redder, reddest.
Similarscarlet, crimson
Note
2
the color itselfnouncountable or uncountable
The color you see in blood, ripe strawberries, and a sunset.
Like the color of a stop sign or a ripe strawberry.
Red is her favorite color for autumn clothes.
He mixed a little red into the white paint to make pink.
3
winenouncountable or uncountable
Wine that is dark red in color.
He poured everyone a glass of red before dinner.
We had some red with the roast lamb.
UsageSay a glass of red.
Oppositewhite
Note
4
adjective
Having an orange or reddish-brown color, especially of hair or fur.
Like the orange-brown color of a fox's coat.
She has long red hair that catches the light.
The baby was born with a tuft of red hair.
Similarginger, auburn, copper, russet
5
adjective
Having a face or skin that looks pink and hot from embarrassment, anger, or sunburn.
Like how your cheeks look warm and pink when you feel shy.
His face went red when everyone laughed at him.
Her cheeks were red after the long walk in the sun.
UsageSay turn red or go red.
Similarflushed, ruddy, crimson, scarlet, florid
Oppositepale
6
sending offnouncolloquialcountablesports
The card a referee holds up to make a player leave the game.
He got a red for a bad tackle and had to leave the game.
The team played with ten men after their captain was shown a red.
UsageA player gets a red.
Note
7
traffic lightnouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A traffic light that tells cars to stop.
He stopped at the red and waited for it to change.
She ran a red and got a ticket.
Oppositegreen
Note
8
US RepublicanadjectiveUS
Linked to or supporting the U.S. Republican Party.
Texas has been a red state for decades.
Most voters in that rural county are solidly red.
UsageSay a red state.
SimilarRepublican, conservative
Oppositeblue
9
animal's short namenouncolloquialcountable
The reddish kind of an animal, such as a kangaroo or a squirrel.
A big red bounded across the dry outback.
We spotted a red high up in the pine tree.

Less common meanings

10
left-leaningadjective
Linked to left-wing politics, like socialism or communism, or to a political party that uses red as its color.
The country elected a red government that promised to nationalize industry.
Many workers backed the red parties that promised higher wages.
UsageIn US election talk, red means Republican: a red state.
Similarleft-wing, leftist, socialist, communist, left
Oppositeright-wing, conservative
Note
11
nouncountable
A communist, or someone who fights for revolutionary socialism.
The factory owner called the striking workers reds.
Her uncle was a red who dreamed of a workers' revolution.
Similarcommunist, Bolshevik, leftist, socialist
12
kind of beernouncountable
A type of ale brewed with red or kilned malt that gives the beer its reddish color.
Of all the beers on tap, he liked the brewery's Irish red best.
The brewery's reds are known for their malty, caramel flavor.
UsageOften Irish red.
Note
13
snooker ballnouncountable
In snooker, one of fifteen one-point red balls, which a player must pot before each attempt at a colored ball.
He potted a red and then lined up the blue.
She missed an easy red near the corner pocket.
Note
14
adjectivederogatoryethnicoffensive
An offensive word used to describe Native American or First Nations people.
All my friends are Indians / All my friends are brown and red
1994, Soundgarden, SpoonmanHere, red refers to Native Americans, a use now seen as offensive.
UsageSay Native American instead.
Note
15
of Native Americansnounderogatoryethnicoffensiveslurcountable or uncountable
An offensive word for a Native American person.
UsageSay Native American instead.
Similarredskin
Note
16
ketchupnounslanguncountable
The thick red sauce made from tomatoes, eaten with fries and burgers.
He squirted some red all over his fries.
Pass me the red for my burger, please.
UsageSay some red.
Similarketchup
Note
17
adjective
Being at the lower-frequency end of the light or radiation being observed.
18
nouncolloquial
A reddish saltwater fish, also called the red drum, often caught by people fishing along the coast.
19
nouncolloquialUS
A spicy stew made from meat and chili peppers.
20
nounslang
A strong sleeping drug, or a single capsule of it.
21
interjection
Said to ask that sexual activity stop right away.
22
noun
In physics, one of the three kinds of 'color' that the smallest building-block particles can carry.
23
adjective
In physics, having the 'red' type of color charge.
24
nouncolloquialIrelandUK
A sweet, bright red soft drink that is popular in Ireland and parts of the UK.
25
nouncolloquialUK
A wading bird with long red-orange legs, found near water in Britain.

More uses

in the redowing money, or spending more than you earn

Practice

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

Origin

From Old English rēad, going back to older Germanic and Indo-European words for "red."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Red derives from Old English rēad. en.wikipedia.org
The Old English word descends from older Germanic and Indo-European words meaning red. en.wiktionary.org