Word
peruse
Phoneticspe·ruse, stress on the second syllable
US/pɝˈuz/
UK/pəɹˈuːz/
Definitions
01to read carefully
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to read or examine something very carefully and in detail.
v. to read or examine with thoroughness and care. This is the traditional and formal sense of the word.
“He spent the afternoon perusing the old documents in the library.”
“The legal team spent several days perusing the contract to ensure no hidden clauses would disadvantage their client.”
Usage
Takes a direct object.
Teaching tip
In formal writing and exams, this is the only accepted meaning. Advise students to use it when they mean 'study closely'.
Synonyms
02to skim or browse
C1 · Advanced Informal
v. to look through something quickly or casually.
v. to glance over or skim through a text or collection in a casual manner.
“I perused the magazines in the waiting room while I waited for my appointment.”
“While perusing the bookstore's new arrivals, she happened upon a rare edition of her favorite novel.”
Usage
Often used with 'through'.
Teaching tip
This is a 'contronym' because it means the opposite of the formal sense. Many careful speakers consider this usage incorrect.
03an act of reading
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Informal · Dialect
n. the act of reading or looking at something.
n. an instance of perusing; a careful or casual examination of a text.
“The report is available for your peruse at the front desk.”
“After a quick peruse of the menu, he decided to order the daily special.”
Teaching tip
The noun form 'perusal' is much more common in standard English; using 'peruse' as a noun is often seen as non-standard or dialectal.
Real-World Examples
“If you are price-conscious, peruse our guides to the Best Tablets and Best Android Tablets for ideas.” Etymology
From either Medieval Latin perūtor, perūsitō (“wear out”)) or Anglo-Norman peruser (“use up”)), originally leading to two concurrent meanings, but only those derived from "to examine" survive today. By surface analysis, per- + use.
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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/peruse