perusal

noun

pe·​rus·​al pə-ˈrü-zəl How to pronounce perusal (audio)
plural perusals
Synonyms of perusalnext
: the act or an instance of perusing something : a reading or examining of something
a report that deserves careful perusal
She gave the list a quick perusal.
He had returned for less than a minute to his perusal of outdated magazines when Joan came back.John Updike

Examples of perusal 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.
Both photographers transform trees into arboreal personae through intent perusal and framing, deploy cars less as signifiers than as compositional forms, and relish discovering architectural oddities. James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026 Just one quick perusal of Corrin’s Instagram comments reveals shocking bigotry. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 May 2026 As a means of conspicuous consumption the canon is poorly served, but as a destination to explore, as a complicated, contradictory, sometimes boring and often beautiful place, there can be much to be gained through a meander, a perusal, a stroll. Literary Hub, 21 May 2026 Then a perusal of several studies that spanned decades and oceans made my hypothesis cloudy enough to blot out that April Fools’ Day moon. Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perusal

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1589, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perusal was circa 1589

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Cite this Entry

“Perusal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perusal. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

perusal

noun
pe·​rus·​al
pə-ˈrü-zəl
: the action of perusing

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