peruse

verb

pe·​ruse pə-ˈrüz 

perused; perusing

transitive verb

1

a

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

"Do you know me?" asked Mr. Huntingdon, intently perusing his features.

—Anne Brontë

b

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

The esoteric nature of most theories of art prevent them from being absorbed and understood by the art-going public. … Many merely desire a pleasant afternoon perusing the exhibitions in their local gallery.

—Launt Thompson

2

: read

The wretched plumber had been perusing my private documents.

—Myles na gCopaleen (Flann O'Brien)

especially : to read over in an attentive or leisurely manner

Young and old can peruse this picture book as the months get colder and be imbued with pride.

—The Chicago Tribune

… the narrative itself was so interesting, that Jeanie … ran upstairs to her own apartment, and bolted the door, to peruse it without interruption.

—Sir Walter Scott

peruser noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Does peruse mean "read in detail"?

Peruse can mean "to read something in a relaxed way, or skim" and can also mean "to read something carefully or in detail." It is what is known as a contronym, a word having two meanings that contradict one another. There are numerous examples of these in English, including sanction, oversight, and dust. If you use peruse simply take care that your intended meaning is made clear by the context.

Does peruse mean "to skim"?

Yes; one of our definitions for peruse is "to skim." However, you should be aware that another of our definitions for this word is "to read something in detail." Some usage guides feel that the ‘"read carefully" sense is correct and that the "skim" sense is not. Both have been in widespread use for some four hundred years.

What is the noun form of peruse?

Peruse is a verb, referring to either the casual or the thorough and detailed examining of something. The related noun meaning "the act or an instance of perusing something" is perusal. Another noun related to peruse is peruser, "one who peruses."

Synonyms of peruse

• read

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

Then, peruse the site to score the same discount on all Merit Beauty products — including the exact mascara Martha Stewart calls on to show off her long eyelashes. —Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025

While the savings are great for our wallets, there are seemingly too many deals that require more time to peruse and pick. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Nov. 2025

While perusing the wares, visitors can learn about the history of chocolate and how it’s made via educational displays. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025

Amazon customers can quickly peruse, select, purchase and receive their product within a couple days. —Jennifer Farmer, Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to use up, deal with in sequence, from Latin per- thoroughly + Middle English usen to use

First Known Use

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for peruse

• accrues
• accuse
• aircrews
• amuse
• bamboos
• breakthroughs
• canoes
• cashews
• chartreuse
• confuse
• construes
• defuse

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Kids Definition

peruse

verb

pe·​ruse pə-ˈrüz 

perused; perusing

: read entry 1 sense 1a

especially : to read carefully or thoroughly

peruser noun