reading

noun

read·​ing ˈrē-diŋ 

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

Synonyms

• account
• interpretation
• performance
• rendition
• version

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.

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Recent Examples on the Web

This stand isn’t just practical for tarot readings but also doubles as enchanting witchy room decor. —Cristian Esteban, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2023

Two nights later, on stage at the Mandolin Cinema in Sydney’s Surry Hills, Cave would recite from sections of his work in progress while an ambient soundtrack rose and fell with suitably ominous and dreamlike effect around his reading voice. —Mark Mordue, SPIN, 1 Dec. 2023

The readings are then fed into a neural network program to aid in rapidly classifying TBI and non-TBI examples. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 Nov. 2023

This could include activities like meditation, exercise, reading, or planning. —Ginny Hogan, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023

The reading, which was lower than economists expected, was helped along by easing food and energy prices. —Caitlin McCabe, WSJ, 29 Nov. 2023

Black people are often excluded from studies due to the texture of their hair, receive erroneous and inaccurate readings due to the melanin content of their skin, and are severely underrepresented in neuroimaging datasets. —De-Shaine Murray, STAT, 29 Nov. 2023

Essential reading: Beans are good for the planet, for you and for your dinner table. —Joe Yonan, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023

Howery’s line readings sound improvised, and that’s a good thing. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Nov. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reading

• first reading
• light reading
• reading frame
• required reading
• speed-reading
• second reading
• poetry reading
• reading desk
• third reading
• reading glasses

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• first reading
• light reading
• reading frame
• required reading
• speed-reading
• second reading
• poetry reading
• reading desk
• third reading
• reading glasses

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Kids Definition

reading

noun

read·​ing

ˈrēd-iŋ

1

: something to be read or for reading

2

: a particular version

3

: the number or fact shown on an instrument

the thermometer reading was 20 degrees

4

: an individual explanation of something

Geographical 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)