read

/rid/

Reviewed on

Also a noun

Meaning

  1. To look at written words or symbols and understand what they mean.

    • I read the news every morning on my phone.

  2. To say written words out loud for other people to hear.

    • Can you read the story to the kids tonight?

  3. To understand something by looking at it, or to understand what someone is thinking or feeling.

    • I can't read his handwriting.

  4. To show particular words or information.

    • The sign on the door read "Closed for lunch."

How it's used

When this means “understand written words about something”

  • read + text / read about + topic

I read about the storm online.

When this means “report information you learned from reading”

  • read (that) + clause

I read that the museum is free on Sundays.

When this means “say written words for someone to hear”

  • read + person + story / read + story + to + person

My dad read us a story every night.

When this means “the past form is spelled the same but sounds like 'red'”

  • past tense: read /rɛd/

Yesterday I read three chapters.

Collocations

  • read a book
  • read carefully
  • read the instructions
  • read aloud
  • read a bedtime story
  • read a map
  • read a clock

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms

  • read between the lines

    to understand a meaning that is not said directly

    Read between the lines. She's not happy with the plan.

  • read someone's mind

    to know what someone is thinking without being told

    You read my mind. I was just going to order pizza.