peruse

verb

pe·ruse | \ pə-ˈrüz

perused; perusing

Definition of peruse

transitive verb

1a : to examine or consider with attention and in detail : study

b : to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner

2 : read especially : to read over in an attentive or leisurely manner

Other Words from peruse Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about peruse

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Did You Know?

Peruse has long been a literary word, used by such famous authors as Shakespeare, Tennyson, and Thomas Hardy, and it tends to have a literary flavor even in our time. Peruse can suggest paying close attention to something, but it can also simply mean "to read." The "read" sense, which is not especially new and was in fact included in Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary, has drawn some criticism over the years for being too broad. Some commentators have recommended that peruse be reserved for reading with great care and attention to detail. But the fact remains that peruse is often used in situations where a simple "read" definition could be easily substituted. It may suggest either an attentive read or a quick scan.

Examples of peruse in a Sentence

To refresh my memory of the old days, I asked for some Dailies of the thirties from the morgue, sat down at the large round oak table at the end of the editorial room on the second floor, and began riffling through the musty pages. Soon a burly middle-aged man appeared and seated himself at the table to peruse some recent issues of the paper and take notes. — Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987 I've even found myself idly perusing the Yellow Pages, not frantic for a plumber, just browsing. — Lesley Conger, Writer, October 1968 Bessie asked if I would have a book … , and I begged her to fetch Gulliver's Travels from the library. This book I had again and again perused with delight. — Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847 He perused the newspaper over breakfast. perused the manuscript, checking for grammatical errors

Recent Examples on the Web

Start your day there with breakfast on the patio of the Cappuccino Grand Café and perusing the hotel’s incredibly vast art collection. — Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, "7 Dreamy Memorial Day Getaway Hotels To Book Now," 13 May 2019 Crawl on over and peruse your mother’s impressive, and growing, wardrobe. — Elizabeth Holmes, Town & Country, "An Open Letter to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's New Royal Baby," 7 May 2019 For one weekend in mid-August, the city transforms itself into this bustling bazaar; 100,000 people perusing thousands of vendors’ tables and tents filled with supposedly authentic Native American crafts — pottery, rugs, leather goods, jewelry. — Alexandra Mondalek, Vox, "Fake turquoise jewelry is hurting Native Americans economically," 24 Oct. 2018 Indulge in a facial, massage, or illuminating peel, then peruse the bounty of natural and organic salves and serums in the apothecary. — Taylore Glynn, Marie Claire, "Your Beauty Guide to Albuquerque," 3 May 2019 Mother’s Day weekend shoppers took a step back in time to peruse treasures from bygone days at the third annual Vintage Market at The Grove Saturday. — Gina Grillo, chicagotribune.com, "The Grove's Vintage Market offers unique shopping experience," 15 May 2018 At the soiree, attendees sipped on cocktails and perused products at the Goop MRKT pop-up, People reports. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Gwyneth Paltrow and Blythe Danner Prove You're Never Too Old for a Mommy-and-Me Moment," 21 July 2017 Volunteers escorted adoptable pets as guests perused the silent and live auction items. — Amber Elliott, Houston Chronicle, "José Altuve, Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers score a home run for Houston charities at Tootsies," 21 May 2018 Here, peruse our favorite platforms to stomp around in as the weather heats up. — Vogue, "It’s Official: Platform Sandals Are the Shoe of the Summer," 12 Apr. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'peruse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.