peruse
verb
pe·ruse pə-ˈrüz 
perused; perusing
transitive verb
1
a
: to examine or consider with attention and in detail : study
b
: to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner
2
: read
especially : to read over in an attentive or leisurely manner
peruser noun
Synonyms
- pore (over)
- read
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
To refresh my memory of the old days, I asked for some Dailies of the thirties from the morgue, sat down at the large round oak table at the end of the editorial room on the second floor, and began riffling through the musty pages. Soon a burly middle-aged man appeared and seated himself at the table to peruse some recent issues of the paper and take notes. 
Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987 I've even found myself idly perusing the Yellow Pages, not frantic for a plumber, just browsing. Lesley Conger, Writer, October 1968 Bessie asked if I would have a book … , and I begged her to fetch Gulliver's Travels from the library. This book I had again and again perused with delight. Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847 He perused the newspaper over breakfast. perused the manuscript, checking for grammatical errors
Arthur Miller, Timebends, 1987 I've even found myself idly perusing the Yellow Pages, not frantic for a plumber, just browsing. Lesley Conger, Writer, October 1968 Bessie asked if I would have a book … , and I begged her to fetch Gulliver's Travels from the library. This book I had again and again perused with delight. Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847 He perused the newspaper over breakfast. perused the manuscript, checking for grammatical errors Recent Examples on the Web Guests can peruse swag, merch, and other pop culture goods on the floor at Fan Expo Boston this weekend. Matt Juul, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2022 Those looking to invest in their après-ski lineup can also peruse Chanel's Coco Neige collection, a line dedicated solely to your cold-weather wardrobe and winter sports. Shelby Ying Hyde, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 Mar. 2022 The library’s facilities include a 2,400-square-foot performance hall, a street-level cafe and coffee bar, recording studios, a teen center and the TD Great Reading Room, where visitors can peruse books from the library’s 450,000-item collection. Siobhan Reid, Washington Post, 29 June 2022 Stopping by to peruse might be a special treat for dad; taking one home, an unforgettable gift. New York Times, 9 June 2022 And when you're done adding these titles to your TBR, be sure to peruse our collections of can't-miss beach reads, books for horse-lovers, and Country Living Front Porch Book Club selections, too! Ashley Leath And Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 19 Aug. 2022 Though a lot of people prefer to try shoes on and test them out in person, there are plenty of good reasons to peruse your options and buy online. Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 18 Aug. 2022 But there is an easier way to look at government secrets and even peruse them at leisure: just be appointed an official government historian. Daniel Ford, The New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2022 There are more than 30 flavors to peruse, with a hefty focus on dairy-free choices. Megha Mcswain, Chron, 12 Aug. 2022 See More
Matt Juul, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2022 Those looking to invest in their après-ski lineup can also peruse Chanel's Coco Neige collection, a line dedicated solely to your cold-weather wardrobe and winter sports. Shelby Ying Hyde, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 Mar. 2022 The library’s facilities include a 2,400-square-foot performance hall, a street-level cafe and coffee bar, recording studios, a teen center and the TD Great Reading Room, where visitors can peruse books from the library’s 450,000-item collection. Siobhan Reid, Washington Post, 29 June 2022 Stopping by to peruse might be a special treat for dad; taking one home, an unforgettable gift. New York Times, 9 June 2022 And when you're done adding these titles to your TBR, be sure to peruse our collections of can't-miss beach reads, books for horse-lovers, and Country Living Front Porch Book Club selections, too! Ashley Leath And Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 19 Aug. 2022 Though a lot of people prefer to try shoes on and test them out in person, there are plenty of good reasons to peruse your options and buy online. Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 18 Aug. 2022 But there is an easier way to look at government secrets and even peruse them at leisure: just be appointed an official government historian. Daniel Ford, The New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2022 There are more than 30 flavors to peruse, with a hefty focus on dairy-free choices. Megha Mcswain, Chron, 12 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, to use up, deal with in sequence, from Latin per- thoroughly + Middle English usen to use
First Known Use
circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
peruse
verb
pe·ruse pə-ˈrüz
perused; perusing
1
: read sense 1
2
: to read through carefully
peruse
verb
as in to read
to go over and mentally take in the content of perused the manuscript, checking for grammatical errors Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- read
- scan
- review
- browse
- study
- skim
- devour
- reread
- pore (over)
- decipher
- see
- turn over
- proofread
- speed-read
- comprehend
- understand
- grasp
- apprehend
- perceive
- dip (into)
- make out
- gobble (up)
- wade (through)
- slog (through)
- leaf (through)
- thumb (through)
- get
- make
- tumble (to)