read
interpret something that is written or printed
How often you will meet it
Rank 303 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 68,928 times across 175,113 chapters — 0.033% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
verb
- interpret something that is written or printed read the advertisementHave you read Salman Rushdie?
- have or contain a certain wording or form also: say The passage reads as followsWhat does the law say?
- look at, interpret, and say out loud something that is written or printed The King will read the proclamation at noon
- obtain data from magnetic tapes or other digital sources also: scan This dictionary can be read by the computer
- interpret the significance of, as of palms, tea leaves, intestines, the sky; also of human behavior She read the sky and predicted rainI can't read his strange behavior
- interpret something in a certain way; convey a particular meaning or impression also: take I read this address as a satireHow should I take this message?
read in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
-
The letter was produced and read to the shamefaced Johnny.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
-
Those who read the symbol do so at their peril.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
-
Then read a short scene in detail, allowing each actor to read several parts.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
-
Why should he stoop to read your letter to us; and commend your writing and spelling?
Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded · Samuel Richardson · Chapter 1
-
In his study he was literally entombed in books---volumes in all languages--and Avonsbridge supposed him able to read them all.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1