1
: the act of reading
2
a
: material read or for reading
b
: extent of material read
3
a
: a particular version
b
: data indicated by an instrument
4
a
: a particular interpretation of something (such as a law)
b
: a particular performance of something (such as a musical work)
5
: an indication of a certain state of affairs
a study to get some reading of shoppers' preferences
Examples of reading in a Sentence
The family attended the reading of her will.
The speech ended with a reading from his latest novel.
After several readings, I finally understood the meaning of the poem.
He needs help in reading.
The teacher gave us a list of books for further reading on the subject.
He has done a lot of reading on this subject.
The reading for today is about human cloning.
Moby-Dick is required reading for any scholar of 19th-century American literature.
The pastor selected a reading for tonight's service.
Recent Examples on the Web
Friends of the Ramona Library are participating in two events in February that promote reading and literacy in local communities.
—
Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
For Rick, the readings were largely to understand if this was the stuff of cinema or not.
—Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
They will be celebrated on April 9 at the Museum of the Moving Image with a work-in-progress script reading, cocktail reception, and other festivities — open to the public (RSVPs will open soon).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2026
My own reading, not incompatible with the alcoholic diagnosis, is that all those cocktails are a spell of protection.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reading
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
For Rick, the readings were largely to understand if this was the stuff of cinema or not.
—Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
They will be celebrated on April 9 at the Museum of the Moving Image with a work-in-progress script reading, cocktail reception, and other festivities — open to the public (RSVPs will open soon).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2026
My own reading, not incompatible with the alcoholic diagnosis, is that all those cocktails are a spell of protection.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reading
Cite this Entry
“Reading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reading. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationGeographical Definition
Reading
geographical name
Read·ing
ˈre-diŋ 
1
town in eastern Massachusetts north of Boston population 24,747
2
city on the Schuylkill River in southeastern Pennsylvania population 88,082
3
town on the Thames River in southern England that is the capital of Berkshire population 219,000
Biographical Definition
Reading
biographical name
Read·ing
ˈre-diŋ
1st Marquis of 1860-1935 Rufus Daniel Isaacs British statesman; viceroy of India (1921-26)
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