read
- 01 A1 Beginner
v.to look at words or symbols and understand what they mean.
v.to look at and interpret written or printed characters or symbols to derive meaning.
Simple“I like to read a few pages of my book before I go to sleep.”
In context“The researcher had to read through hundreds of archived documents to find the specific evidence needed for the case.”
PitfallI am reading a book about two hours. I have been reading a book for two hours.Use 'for' to show duration, and the present perfect continuous for an action that started in the past and continues now.
- 02 A2 Elementary
v.to say the words of a book or letter out loud so others can hear.
v.to utter aloud words that are written or printed.
Simple“The teacher asked the student to read the next paragraph to the class.”
In context“The actor was asked to read for the lead role, demonstrating his ability to convey emotion through the script's dialogue.”
Synonymsrecitedeclaim - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to study a specific subject at a university.
v.to study a particular academic subject at a university level.
Simple“My brother went to Oxford to read history and politics.”
In context“She elected to read Law at Cambridge, following in the footsteps of several generations of her family.”
Synonymsstudymajor in - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to understand the hidden meaning or feelings in a situation or person.
v.to interpret or infer the meaning, significance, or hidden intentions of a person or situation.
Simple“It is sometimes difficult to read his body language during a meeting.”
In context“Experienced negotiators are often able to read the subtle shifts in their opponent's tone to predict their next move.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.when a computer gets information from a disk or memory.
v.to extract or retrieve data from a storage medium or device.
Simple“The computer cannot read the file because the disk is damaged.”
In context“The system was unable to read the encrypted sectors of the hard drive without the correct administrative credentials.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to be able to hear and understand someone talking over a radio.
v.to hear and understand a person transmitting over a radio connection.
Simple“Loud and clear, I read you five by five.”
In context“The pilot confirmed that he could read the control tower despite the heavy atmospheric interference.”
- 07 C1 Advanced
v.to point out someone's flaws in a funny or slightly mean way.
v.to wittily or insultingly expose someone's flaws, often within a specific subculture.
Simple“She really read him for his terrible fashion sense.”
In context“The comedian spent the entire set reading members of the front row for their questionable life choices.”
- 08 B1 Intermediate
n.a book or article that is described by how good it is to read.
n.a piece of writing considered in terms of its quality or the experience of reading it.
Simple“That new biography is a very long but interesting read.”
In context“The editor described the manuscript as a compelling read that would likely dominate the bestseller lists for months.”
- 09 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.your personal opinion or understanding of a situation.
n.an individual's particular interpretation or impression of a situation or text.
Simple“What is your read on the new manager's personality?”
In context“After reviewing the quarterly figures, the analyst provided a cautious read on the company's future growth prospects.”
Synonyms
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English and Scottish surname, variant of Reed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.