verb

read

reed

verb

To look at written words or symbols and understand their meaning.

"She read the letter twice before replying."

"He can read music as well as play it."

To say written words aloud.

"The teacher read the story to the class."

To study a subject, especially at university.

"She read history at Oxford."

To interpret or judge a situation, person, or signal.

"He's hard to read; you never know what he's thinking."

noun

A book, article, or other piece of writing, or an instance of reading it.

"This novel is a great summer read."

How to Use Read

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo take in and understand written words, or, more broadly, to work out what a person or situation means.

UK vs US

In British English, "read" a subject at university (e.g. "she read law"); Americans more often say "studied" or "majored in."

Common pairings

read a book read between the lines a good read

Word Forms

read past tense, readen past tense, redd past tense, read plural, redd plural, reads plural, reads singular, read singular, redd singular, readest singular, readst singular, readeth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ the letter twice before replying.

Etymology

From Old English rǣdan, which originally meant "to advise" or "to interpret" before narrowing to mean "to interpret written text."

Rhymes for read

head lead dead bead mead bread plead tread ahead dread knead stead

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