Word
bookworm
Phoneticsbook·worm, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbʊˌkwɝm/
UK/bˈʊkwɜːm/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who loves books and reads a lot. You use it in a friendly way for someone who always has a book nearby.
n. a person who reads avidly and devotes much time to books.
Examples
“My sister is a real bookworm and reads every night.”
“Our new neighbour is a total bookworm and already borrowed five novels from the local library.”
“The quiet teenager grew into a self-confessed bookworm who prefers crowded secondhand shops to parties.”
Examples
simple
“My sister is a real bookworm and reads every night.”
contextual
“Our new neighbour is a total bookworm and already borrowed five novels from the local library.”
complex
“The quiet teenager grew into a self-confessed bookworm who prefers crowded secondhand shops to parties.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “bookworm” in context.
Verb
01. appeal to bookworm
“This new fantasy series will appeal to any bookworm.”
verb + prep + noun
02. become bookworm
“He became a bookworm after his teacher gave him comics.”
verb + noun
03. bookworm loves
“Every bookworm loves a quiet corner to read in peace.”
noun + verb
04. bookworm recommends
“The bookworm in our group recommends great novels.”
noun + verb
05. call bookworm
“Her friends call her a bookworm because she always reads.”
verb + noun
Noun
06. bit of bookworm
“I'm a bit of a bookworm, so I loved the library tour.”
noun + prep + noun
07. bookworm club
“We started a bookworm club that meets on Fridays.”
noun + noun
08. fellow bookworm
“I lent my favourite novel to a fellow bookworm.”
noun + noun
09. a bit of a bookworm
“She's a bit of a bookworm and finishes a novel every weekend.”
10. a bookworm at heart
“She's an engineer but a bookworm at heart.”
11. a self-confessed bookworm
“As a self-confessed bookworm, I visit the bookstore weekly.”
12. appeal to every bookworm
“This cosy shop will appeal to every bookworm in town.”
Real-World Examples
“Opening your own book shop might be a lofty daydream for some bookworms looking to escape their 9-5, but more and more people are making it a reality.” “And with Gen Zers still eager to see themselves as readers who discover, discuss and share books with one another, we think the future for bookworms is bright.” “Thus, I felt a pang of empathy for Alec, the “fried bookworm” and protagonist of Andrew Clements's The Losers Club, who, when gifted a book, immediately immerses himself in it while his own birthday celebration unfolds around him.” Etymology
From book + worm.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/bookworm