1
a
: one that reads
a magazine with three million readers
b
: one appointed to read to others: such as
(1)
: lector
(2)
: one chosen to read aloud selected material in a Christian Science church or society
c(1)
(2)
: one who evaluates manuscripts
(3)
: one who reads periodical literature to discover items of special interest or value
d
: an employee who reads and records the indications of meters
e
: a teacher's assistant who reads and marks student papers
2
British
: one who reads lectures or expounds subjects to students
3
a
: a device for projecting a readable image of a transparency
b
: an electronic device that can display text (as that of a book or magazine)
c
: an electronic device that scans coded information (as on credit cards or bar codes) for storage or computation
5
readers plural
: eyeglasses used for reading or close work : reading glasses
Gilda came back with a pair of readers and, looking through her glasses, gave my eyelids serious consideration.—
Jeanne Ray
Jeanne RayExamples of reader in a Sentence
The book's ending leaves readers to draw their own conclusions.
a magazine with three million readers
Recent Examples on the Web
Duncan and Geiger, in their farewell post, noted readers looked to the almanac for advice on such things as the best days to potty train or wean a baby, or the best time to go fishing.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 7 Nov. 2025
But the people who do these tasks are already more likely to be women than men, and the book’s hot-pink cover, which has a line drawing of a mother and child, isn’t exactly designed to leap out at the male reader.
—Anna Louie Sussman, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Recently, a reader asked KCQ what exactly happened to the parade.
—Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reader
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Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 7 Nov. 2025
But the people who do these tasks are already more likely to be women than men, and the book’s hot-pink cover, which has a line drawing of a mother and child, isn’t exactly designed to leap out at the male reader.
—Anna Louie Sussman, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Recently, a reader asked KCQ what exactly happened to the parade.
—Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reader
Cite this Entry
“Reader.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reader. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reader
noun
read·er
ˈrēd-ər 
1
: a person who reads
2
a
: a device that makes a readable image
a microfilm reader
b
: a machine for acquiring data (as for a computer)
a card reader
3
: a book for learning or practicing reading
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