verb
peruse
puh-ROOZ
Peruse (verb) means to read something carefully and thoroughly. Example: “The lawyer perused the contract line by line before signing.”
verb
1
To read something carefully and thoroughly.
"The lawyer perused the contract line by line before signing."
2
To look over something casually or skim through it.
"She asked Denise for the court file, which she fussed from her handbag. The woman perused it briefly and then beamed up at me."
— Al Lovejoy, Acid Alex (2005)
"She perused the magazine while waiting for her coffee."
"Haynes quickly perused the message, then took it to the captain on the bridge."
— Doug Stanton, In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis (2001)
How to use peruse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo read or look through something, though people disagree on whether it means "read carefully" or "skim casually" — both uses are common.
Common mistake
Traditionalists insist peruse means to read carefully, not to skim, but the casual "skim" sense is now widespread and accepted in everyday use.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
peruse the menu
peruse a document
browse and peruse
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Word forms
- Plural
- peruses
- Third person singular
- peruses
- Past tense
- perused
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The lawyer _____ the contract line by line before signing.
Etymology
Origin debated — likely from Anglo-Norman peruser ("to use up") or Medieval Latin perusitare ("wear out"), later narrowing to mean "examine closely."
Rhymes for peruse
See all rhymes for peruse →Frequently asked questions
What does “peruse” mean?
The word “peruse” means to read something carefully and thoroughly. In plain terms, to read or look through something, though people disagree on whether it means "read carefully" or "skim casually" — both uses are common.
How do you pronounce “peruse”?
“Peruse” is pronounced puh-ROOZ (/pəˈɹuːz/ in IPA).
How do you use “peruse” in a sentence?
Here is “peruse” used in a sentence: “The lawyer perused the contract line by line before signing.”
What part of speech is “peruse”?
“Peruse” is a verb.
Where does the word “peruse” come from?
The word “peruse” comes from Medieval Latin. Origin debated — likely from Anglo-Norman peruser ("to use up") or Medieval Latin perusitare ("wear out"), later narrowing to mean "examine closely.".
How many meanings does “peruse” have?
“Peruse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to read something carefully and thoroughly.
