Read Definition
read
- noun
- something that is read; "the article was a very good read"
- verb
- interpret something that is written or printed; "read the advertisement"; "Have you read Salman Rushdie?"
- have or contain a certain wording or form; "The passage reads as follows"; "What 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; "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 rain"; "I can't read his strange behavior"; "The fortune teller read his fate in the crystal ball"
- 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?"; "You can't take credit for this!"
- be a student of a certain subject; "She is reading for the bar exam"
- indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments; "The thermometer showed thirteen degrees below zero"; "The gauge read `empty'"
- audition for a stage role by reading parts of a role; "He is auditioning for `Julius Caesar' at Stratford this year"
- to hear and understand; "I read you loud and clear!"
- make sense of a language; "She understands French"; "Can you read Greek?"
"Read" in song lyrics
See how read is used in real songs:
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"And I can read what doesn't have to be read"
3rd Bass — Pop Goes the Weasel -
"Where the light doesn't reach so it's trouble to read"
7L & Esoteric f/ Apathy, Celph Titled — Yell at Us -
"So I took a rock and carved it in the glass and it read:"
Aceyalone — The Walls and the Windows
Words that rhyme with read
Usage tips for "read"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "read" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for read to find words that pair well.