1
: the act of reading
2
a
: material read or for reading
b
: extent of material read
3
a
: a particular version
b
: data indicated by an instrument
4
a
: a particular interpretation of something (such as a law)
b
: a particular performance of something (such as a musical work)
5
: an indication of a certain state of affairs
a study to get some reading of shoppers' preferences
Examples of reading in a Sentence
The family attended the reading of her will.
The speech ended with a reading from his latest novel.
After several readings, I finally understood the meaning of the poem.
He needs help in reading.
The teacher gave us a list of books for further reading on the subject.
He has done a lot of reading on this subject.
The reading for today is about human cloning.
Moby-Dick is required reading for any scholar of 19th-century American literature.
The pastor selected a reading for tonight's service.
Recent Examples on the Web
For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience.
—
Usa Today, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Parents Read To 14-Month-Old Her Entire Life, What Happens Next Shocks Viewers
By
Daniella Gray
Family and Parenting Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
0
A 14-month-old from New Zealand has shocked viewers for her outstanding reading skills in her own language.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Growing up, Unai preferred Spanish cartoons and reading but played in midfield alongside his brother, in some ways breaking family goalkeeping tradition.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
The latest data from early March shows about 40% of all students in grades 3-8 meeting grade level or higher in English and reading, two percentage points higher than student performance in December and 12 percentage points higher than October performance.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reading
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.
Usa Today, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Parents Read To 14-Month-Old Her Entire Life, What Happens Next Shocks Viewers
By
Daniella Gray
Family and Parenting Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
0
A 14-month-old from New Zealand has shocked viewers for her outstanding reading skills in her own language.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Growing up, Unai preferred Spanish cartoons and reading but played in midfield alongside his brother, in some ways breaking family goalkeeping tradition.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
The latest data from early March shows about 40% of all students in grades 3-8 meeting grade level or higher in English and reading, two percentage points higher than student performance in December and 12 percentage points higher than October performance.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reading
Cite this Entry
“Reading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reading. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationGeographical Definition
Reading
geographical name
Read·ing
ˈre-diŋ 
1
town in eastern Massachusetts north of Boston population 24,747
2
city on the Schuylkill River in southeastern Pennsylvania population 88,082
3
town on the Thames River in southern England that is the capital of Berkshire population 219,000
Biographical Definition
Reading
biographical name
Read·ing
ˈre-diŋ
1st Marquis of 1860-1935 Rufus Daniel Isaacs British statesman; viceroy of India (1921-26)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share