ENGLISH
REFERENCE

read

v.
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈɹɛd// read Archaic General-service Humorous

v. to look at words and understand what they mean. You do this with books, messages, or signs.

v. to look at and comprehend the meaning of written or printed matter by interpreting the characters or symbols of which it is composed.


SIMPLE

I like to read a book before I go to sleep.

CONTEXTUAL

She sat on the train and started to read the morning newspaper while drinking her coffee.

COMPLEX

The ability to read critically allows a person to distinguish between objective reporting and biased commentary in modern media.

Synonyms
Origin

English and Scottish surname, variant of Reed.

Usage

The verb is both transitive and intransitive; it can take a direct object or stand alone.

Pitfall

I readed the book yesterdayI read the book yesterdayThe past tense of 'read' is spelled the same but pronounced like the color 'red'.

Idioms17 entries

© 2026 English Reference