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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Some investors are expecting the latest reading will show inflation was negative in August on a monthly basis. 
WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Accessibility experts like Quesenbery say that these changes can improve the voting process for everyone, but especially for voters with limited reading abilities. Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 12 Sep. 2022 Alas, the older actors don’t have all that much to do (editor Chris Dickens keeping cutting back to McKee reading), but the younger trio are strong, albeit restrained, in their roles. Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Sep. 2022 All fees and donations support Traveling Stories and provide one-on-one reading support for children. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 Make your couch more colorful, change up the look of your bed, or add some pizzazz to a cozy reading nook by slipping some pillow covers over your existing ones. Jessica Leigh Mattern, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2022 The prosecution argued that the reading suggested he could have been legally intoxicated when the ship hit the reef. Brian Murphy, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 County officials have discussed hosting a reading program — complete with appearances from NBA mascots — that could give kids opportunities to win prizes like stickers, merchandise or tickets to smaller events during All-Star weekend. Blake Apgar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Sep. 2022 That 65 also happened to be the coolest reading made in Washington this month. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2022 See More
WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Accessibility experts like Quesenbery say that these changes can improve the voting process for everyone, but especially for voters with limited reading abilities. Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 12 Sep. 2022 Alas, the older actors don’t have all that much to do (editor Chris Dickens keeping cutting back to McKee reading), but the younger trio are strong, albeit restrained, in their roles. Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Sep. 2022 All fees and donations support Traveling Stories and provide one-on-one reading support for children. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 Make your couch more colorful, change up the look of your bed, or add some pizzazz to a cozy reading nook by slipping some pillow covers over your existing ones. Jessica Leigh Mattern, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2022 The prosecution argued that the reading suggested he could have been legally intoxicated when the ship hit the reef. Brian Murphy, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 County officials have discussed hosting a reading program — complete with appearances from NBA mascots — that could give kids opportunities to win prizes like stickers, merchandise or tickets to smaller events during All-Star weekend. Blake Apgar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Sep. 2022 That 65 also happened to be the coolest reading made in Washington this month. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing reading
Kids Definition
reading
noun
read·ing
ˈrē-diŋ
1
: the act of reading
a poetry reading
2
: something read or available to be read
3
: the number or fact shown on an instrument
Take a reading from the thermometer.
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)
reading 1 of 2
noun
1
as in interpretation
a presentation of an artistic work (as a piece of music) from a particular point of view a very bizarre reading of one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies by an alternative theater company Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- interpretation
- version
- rendition
- performance
- adaptation
- reworking
- account
- variation
2
as in lesson
something assigned to be read or studied make sure you do the assigned reading for tonight Synonyms & Similar Words
- lesson
- assignment
- homework
- lecture
- schoolwork
- study
- exercise
- practice
- practise
- drill
- étude
reading
2 of 2verb
1
as in scanning
to go over and mentally take in the content of he always reads the newspaper in the morning as he eats breakfast Synonyms & Similar Words
- scanning
- perusing
- reviewing
- studying
- skimming
- rereading
- browsing
- seeing
- deciphering
- devouring
- proofreading
- speed-reading
- poring (over)
- understanding
- turning over
- comprehending
- grasping
- getting
- perceiving
- leafing (through)
- dipping (into)
- making
- thumbing (through)
- apprehending
- gobbling (up)
- wading (through)
- making out
- slogging (through)
- tumbling (to)
2
as in predicting
to tell of or describe beforehand the psychic claimed to be able to read his future Synonyms & Similar Words
- predicting
- anticipating
- warning
- forecasting
- calling
- prognosticating
- announcing
- prophesying
- foretelling
- auguring
- presaging
- vaticinating
- cautioning
- alerting
- foreseeing
- forewarning
- promising
- declaring
- proclaiming
- divining
- foreboding
- boding
- portending
- heralding
- foreknowing
- forboding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- telling
- describing
- relating
- reporting
- reciting
- recounting
- narrating