reading

noun

read·ing | \ ˈrē-diŋ

Definition of reading

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : the act of reading

2a : material read or for reading

b : extent of material read

3a : a particular version

b : data indicated by an instrument

4a : 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

Reading

biographical name

Read·ing | \ ˈre-diŋ

Definition of Reading (Entry 2 of 3)

1st Marquis of 1860-1935 Rufus Daniel Isaacs British statesman; viceroy of India (1921-26)

Reading

geographical name

Read·ing | \ ˈre-diŋ

Definition of Reading (Entry 3 of 3)

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

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about reading

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Examples of reading in a Sentence

Noun

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: Noun

Her stories, many taken from previous historical works but also from newspaper accounts and archival material, make good reading. — William F. Bynum, WSJ, "‘Pandemic 1918’ and ‘Influenza’ Review: Fire, Ice or Virus?," 4 Jan. 2019 If your New Year's resolution is to spend some more time reading, add reading 10 pages a day to your nighttime routine once the kids fall asleep. — Jessica Leigh Mattern, Woman's Day, "30 Fun Things to Do By Yourself in Your Lifetime," 3 Jan. 2019 In recent years, Eve Babitz’s work has become required reading for anybody with a soft spot for It Girl lit. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "Most Anticipated Books of 2019: 19 Picks You Should Have on Your Reading List," 1 Jan. 2019 Not recommended reading for anxious people who frequently go to the beach, or those already suspicious of enormous beach umbrellas 2. — Angela Chen, The Verge, "2018 in weird science, from alien conspiracies to sensory illusions," 23 Dec. 2018 As the report notes, the plane's maintenance logs reported problems with the airspeed and altitude readings on four of the six flights operating during the three days prior to the crash. — Barbara S. Peterson, Popular Mechanics, "If the Lion Air Jet Was "Unairworthy," Then Why Was It Allowed To Fly?," 29 Nov. 2018 But, her viewers seemed to be a lot more interested in her surprising reading glasses. — Isabel Greenberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "Everyone Is Obsessed With Kylie Jenner's Prada Glasses," 7 Nov. 2018 In 1852, Dickens gave his first public reading — apparently, making him the first writer ever to do so. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "Here's Who Actually Wrote 'A Christmas Carol,' and Other Fascinating Facts About the Story," 20 Dec. 2018 Her reading of the Carta Magna is the latest major step she's taken in preparing to become Queen. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "13-Year-Old Princess Leonor of Spain Gave Her First Royal Speech," 1 Nov. 2018

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