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

There's no shortage of Mother's Day Bible verses to get in the spiritual mindset, from readings about love to families to female strength. — Blair Donovan, Country Living, "25 Mother's Day Bible Verses to Share With Your Mom," 5 Apr. 2019 Years later, by word of mouth, celebrities began requesting private readings. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "How to Get a Reading with 'Hollywood Medium' Tyler Henry," 7 Mar. 2019 SpaceX has been trying to get this launch off the ground for the last week, but a combination of bad weather and strange sensor readings on the rocket forced the company to push back the mission until Saturday, December 22nd. — Loren Grush, The Verge, "Watch SpaceX launch its final Falcon 9 rocket of the year for the Air Force," 21 Dec. 2018 The spy agency's first female director also lifted the veil behind her life, discussing her affection for Johnny Cash songs, her reading preferences when not poring through CIA briefing books and her most memorable celebrity encounter. — Bruce Schreiner, Fox News, "CIA director: Agency keenly focused on nation state rivals," 24 Sep. 2018 But the exhibition includes a charming relic of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s adventures in chirology, or palm reading. — Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times, "Not Your Average Autograph Collection," 12 July 2018 Long Island Medium star Theresa Caputo gave a reading to John Schneider for the season finale. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "'Long Island Medium' Theresa Caputo Gives John Schneider Intense Reading for the Season Finale," 23 Nov. 2018 The result was Walden, or Life in the Woods, a preachy treatise on the benefits of solitary dude time off the grid, and required reading for high schoolers all across America. — refinery29.com, "What Americana Means (And Doesn't) In 2018: From Childish Gambino To Roseanne," 3 July 2018 The Book of Exodus should be required reading in an era of refugees, climate change, and failed leadership. — The Atlantic, "What Book or Article Would You Make Required Reading for Everyone on Earth?," 26 June 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.