read
Third Person
reads
Present Participle
reading
Past Tense
read
Past Participle
read
1
to look at written or printed words or symbols and understand their meaning
transitive
- I can read this book easily.
- Please read the instructions carefully.
- It's important to read the terms and conditions before agreeing.
- Can you read braille?
- Can you read the sign from this distance?
2
to discover information from something written
- Don't trust everything you read on the internet.
- I read in a magazine that they discovered a new species of butterfly.
- Did you read about the upcoming sale in the store's newsletter?
- She read in a book that practicing gratitude can improve happiness.
3
(of a piece of measuring equipment) to indicate a specific amount or number
transitive
- The fuel gauge in the car reads half full.
- The scale on the bathroom floor read 150 pounds this morning.
- The barometer read a pressure drop, indicating bad weather.
- What does the speedometer read right now?
- The thermometer outside reads a scorching 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
4
to hear and understand what someone is saying on a radio transmitter
transitive
- 'Roger, this is Alpha Team.Do you read us, over?'
- 'Team leader to base, come in.Do you read us?'
- 'Roger that, Captain.I'm reading you loud and clear.'
5
(with reference to computers) to interpret, copy, or move information
transitive
- The software can read various file formats, making it versatile.
- Can you read this external hard drive on your laptop?
- Our system can read data from external hard drives.
- Make sure the printer can read the data from your USB drive.
- This software can read and extract data from PDF documents.
Synonyms:
7
to observe and interpret signs, movements, or behavior in order to anticipate what will happen next
- The fighter could read his opponent's body language and dodge punches before they landed.
- A good chess player knows how to read the board and predict the opponent's next move.
- She learned to read the weather by watching changes in the clouds and wind.
- In poker, professionals read their rivals to spot signs of bluffing.
- The coach taught his players how to read the game and react faster than the other team.
8
to criticize, point out, or call out someone's flaws, often in a clever, witty, or cutting way
- He read her outfit; it was a total disaster.
- Don't try to lie; she'll read you in a second.
- They were reading the new student's awkward entrance.
- She had read him perfectly before he even spoke.