Read (Verb)
Meaning 1
Have or contain a certain wording or form; "The passage reads as follows"; "What does the law say?".
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- The contract reads that the payment is due on the first day of the month.
- The sign on the door clearly reads 'Employees only'.
- Her diplomatic visa reads that it is valid for three years.
- The obituary announcement reads that the funeral will be at 10 o'clock tomorrow.
- The warning label reads that the product is not suitable for children.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Be a student of a certain subject; "She is reading for the bar exam".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- He is reading economics at university, and his dissertation is almost due.
- The lawyer has been reading for the state bar exam for the past few months.
- She has been reading law, with an emphasis on corporate cases.
- He's reading for his master's degree, and the coursework is challenging.
- After finishing her undergraduate degree, she began reading for a PhD in psychology.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 3
Interpret the significance of, as of palms, tea leaves, intestines, the sky; also of human behavior; "She read the sky and predicted rain"; "I can't read his strange behavior"; "The fortune teller read his fate in the crystal ball".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- She read the palms of her clients for a living, often uncovering hidden secrets and desires.
- The ancient Greeks claimed to be able to read the entrails of animals for omens and prophecies.
- The fortune teller peered into the smoky crystal ball and read the young woman's destiny with uncanny accuracy.
- By studying the flight patterns of the birds, the ancient tribes could read the changing seasons and adjust their migrations accordingly.
- The psychologist specialized in reading people's body language and facial expressions to better understand their underlying emotions.
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
Interpret something that is written or printed; "read the advertisement"; "Have you read Salman Rushdie?".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- I read the instructions carefully before assembling the furniture.
- She usually read historical novels on the weekend.
- Have you read any books by George Orwell?
- The professor asked the students to read the chapter before the next class.
- I've never read anything by Shakespeare, but I've seen his plays performed.
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 5
Indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments; "The thermometer showed thirteen degrees below zero"; "The gauge read `empty'".
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- The pressure gauge read 30 psi at maximum capacity.
- Her fuel tank's meter read nearly empty after the long drive.
- The dial on the device read 5.6 on the calibrated scale.
- After adjusting the thermostat, the temperature reading on the display read 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
- At the end of the test, the indicator read 450 milliliters on the calibrated chart.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 6
Audition for a stage role by reading parts of a role; "He is auditioning for `Julius Caesar' at Stratford this year".
Classification
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing.
Examples
- She will read for the lead role in the upcoming Shakespeare production at the local theater.
- After several rehearsals, they decided it was time to read the entire play from start to finish.
- The actor was asked to read the monologue from Act 3 for his audition.
- She felt confident about her chances after reading the romantic dialogue with her co-star.
- They instructed all the students to read their parts in front of their peers for practice.
Hypernyms
Meaning 7
Make sense of a language; "She understands French"; "Can you read Greek?".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- I can barely read Spanish but I am trying to improve my skills.
- She was born in France but can only read basic French due to her unusual upbringing.
- The professor asked his students if they could read ancient Latin texts without assistance.
- My grandmother was known for her ability to read Sanskrit and teach classical Indian literature.
- He is a polyglot and can read several languages, including Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 8
Look at, interpret, and say out loud something that is written or printed; "The King will read the proclamation at noon".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- She began to read the letter aloud to the entire family.
- The news anchor will read the breaking news report live on television.
- The King will read the proclamation at noon.
- Don't forget to read the instructions carefully before assembling the furniture.
- The priest will read the prayer during the ceremony.
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 9
To hear and understand; "I read you loud and clear!".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- I read you loud and clear over the radio, now let's proceed with the mission.
- The operator read me back the confirmation code for the transfer.
- We read the pilot's voice clearly despite the static noise on the communication device.
- Over the comms device, I read my team's commander saying to retreat to a safe distance.
- Mission control read us loud and clear during the shuttle launch sequence.
Meaning 10
Obtain data from magnetic tapes or other digital sources; "This dictionary can be read by the computer".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- The device can read data from the old cassette tapes and transfer it to the computer.
- A special program is required to read the information stored on the floppy disk.
- The bar code reader can read prices and stock levels from the database in real time.
- The magnetometer can read magnetic fields in the Earth's crust and provide important geological data.
- A digital thermostat can read temperature and humidity from sensors in the warehouse.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 11
Interpret something in a certain way; convey a particular meaning or impression; "I read this address as a satire"; "How should I take this message?".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- The critic read the novel as a commentary on contemporary social issues.
- Her tone read as slightly sarcastic to those who knew her sense of humor.
- Some people read this newfound emphasis on sustainability as a marketing ploy.
- I read the artist's use of bold colors as a reflection of his inner world.
- His body language read as tense and uneasy during the job interview.