lip-read

verb

lip-read ˈlip-ˌred How to pronounce lip-read (audio) ; lip-reading ˈlip-ˌrē-diŋ How to pronounce lip-read (audio)

transitive verb

: to understand by lipreading

intransitive verb

: to use lipreading
lip-reader noun

Examples of lip-read in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When the police call on Alison to lip-read the conversations of dangerous criminals, she is plunged into a high-stakes new world. Marta Balaga, Variety, 15 May 2025 And not only does her role as Alison, a smart and determined deaf woman who works in a police canteen and gets recruited to use her lip-reading skills in a covert operation, redefine how deaf characters can be featured on screen. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025 Taylor Swift fans have claimed to have been able to lip-read what the singer and Travis Kelce said to each other after the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills Sunday night. Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025 The actresses — who were the target of separate lip-reading rumors at the Golden Globes last weekend — poked fun at all the commotion online by posing for a cheeky photo together at the 2023 American Film Institute Awards in Los Angeles on Friday. EW.com, 13 Jan. 2024 The idea that there was a snub gained traction Monday when people on the internet, as well as Freeman, whom Page Six identified Monday as a lip-reading expert, viewed one or more of the video clips that have been circulating on social media. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024 The Broadway vet proceeds to show off her lip-reading skills by reading the lips of attorny Kristin VanOrman and Gwyneth Paltrow from the actress’ 2023 ski collision trial. Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Jan. 2024 Jacob Elordi lip-reads celebrities including Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce On a mock TV entertainment news show, two hosts brought on Elordi and SNL cast member Bowen Yang as professional lip-readers with hilariously bad interpretations of celebrity moments. TIME, 21 Jan. 2024 Emily Blunt got caught up in lip-reading speculation, too, and the actors joked about it together at the American Film Institute Awards. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 16 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of lip-read was in 1874

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lip-read.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lip-read. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

lip-read

verb
ˈlip-ˌrēd
lip-read
-ˌred
; lip-reading
-ˌrēd-iŋ
: to use lipreading to understand a speaker's words
lip-reader
-ˌrēd-ər
noun

Medical Definition

lip-read

verb
lip-read -ˌred How to pronounce lip-read (audio) ; lip-reading -ˌrēd-iŋ How to pronounce lip-read (audio)

transitive verb

: to understand by lipreading

intransitive verb

: to use lipreading
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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