reading 1 of 2

noun

ˈrē-diŋ How to pronounce reading (audio)
Definition of readingnext
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
2
as in lesson
something assigned to be read or studied make sure you do the assigned reading for tonight

Synonyms & Similar Words

reading

2 of 2

verb

present participle of read
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
2
as in predicting
to tell of or describe beforehand the psychic claimed to be able to read his future

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reading
Noun
Moreno, who was present for the reading of the verdict, is 73 years old and has a physical disability that prevents him from walking. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Most of that reading, though, should be kept off the page or confined to the gentlest cross-hatching. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
And a great way to get a kid interested in a story is by reading it aloud to them. — Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 Imagine two people reading the same headline about a rare side effect from a new vaccine. — Aleeza Gerstein, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reading
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reading
  1. interpretation
  2. lesson
  3. scanning
  4. predicting
  5. version
  6. assignment
  7. perusing
  8. rendition
Noun
  • Under the Taliban’s draconian interpretation of sharia, watching movies, playing chess, singing, and playing or listening to music are all banned.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Under certain interpretations of the 1963 rule, courts are not allowed to weigh whether a merger might make competition stronger overall.
    — Shubha Ghosh, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of interpretation
Noun
  • Cyrus then offered a little history lesson of his own, recalling a time when he was known simply by his surname before his 1992 breakthrough hit.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • History’s lesson is rarely that leaders failed to see the technology coming.
    — Pankaj Prasoon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of lesson
Verb
  • Clinical Trial Recruitment AI can accelerate clinical trial participant matching by scanning records against eligibility criteria, shortening recruitment dramatically.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • As the children played and the adults talked, Rose kept noticing her husband looking toward the water, scanning the horizon.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of scanning
Verb
  • Processor defenses leave a tiny opening Modern processors improve performance by predicting which path a program is likely to follow and beginning the work before the correct path is confirmed.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But predicting what will be Roman's greatest accomplishments over the course of its five-year-mission is a tricky business.
    — Joe Palca, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of predicting
Noun
  • Dorsey uses solid gold (as well as sterling silver), meaning its pieces are not classified as demi-fine, but a Dorsey diamond tennis necklace will set you back up to $20,000, rather than upwards of $30,000 to $40,000 for a natural diamond version.
    — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • In real life, Murray Hill sometimes serves as an also-ran alongside its chic cousin, a Walmart Great Value version of the Village, but in this TV version, the opposite somehow came to be.
    — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of version
Noun
  • At least one of those pieces is expected to be infielder Josh Smith, who rejoined Toronto on Sunday after a brief rehab assignment.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Elwood’s assignment in Vegas in September 2009 was to keep the younger Gadhafi’s name out of the headlines.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of assignment
Verb
  • At a Target in Falls Church, Virginia, Sam Fowler and his fiancée, Lindsay Nesmith, were perusing the display of noodles, including Buldak spicy ramen.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Its under-the-radar outlet section is especially worth perusing, with savings on new furniture including accent chairs, sectionals, storage ottomans, and table sets.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of perusing
Noun
  • Cassandra Wilson, the Grammy-winning vocalist known for her deep roots in classic jazz and wide-ranging renditions from blues, folk and country, has died.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In addition to Wilson’s originals, the album found her singing renditions of songs by Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, and Ann Peebles.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of rendition

Browse Nearby Words

readiness
reading
reading out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reading. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reading

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reading

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