read
gb/ɹˈid/ us/ɹˈid/
A1
English
~ 400
olvas, elolvas, felolvas, hangosan olvas, értelmez, leolvas, térképet olvas, áll, olvasható, úgy hangzik, mint, olvasás, olvasmány, átolvasás
VERB
A1
1
Usage pattern:
to read [a book/newspaper/sign]
I like to read the newspaper every morning.
Szeretek minden reggel újságot olvasni.
She read the sign before entering the building.
Mielőtt belépett az épületbe, elolvasta a táblát.
He reads three novels a month.
Please read the instructions before using the machine.
Learner examples
I read a book every night.
Minden este könyvet olvasok.
She reads the menu before ordering.
Rendelés előtt elolvassa az étlapot.
We read the map to find the park.
He reads the letter slowly.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'read' with 'study'; 'read' means to look at and understand written words, not necessarily to learn deeply.
Meaning
Understand written text
Collocations
read a book
|read aloud
|read carefully
|read the newspaper
|read instructions
Synonyms
peruse (More formal; often means to read carefully or thoroughly.)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately not pay attention to written or printed material.)
Themes
communication
|education
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To look at words or symbols and know what they mean.
To look at and comprehend the meaning of written or printed words or symbols.
VERB
A2
2
felolvas
A2
Usage pattern:
to read [a passage] aloud
The teacher asked him to read the paragraph aloud.
A tanár megkérte, hogy olvassa fel a bekezdést.
She reads bedtime stories to her kids every night.
Minden este lefekvéskor mesét olvas fel a gyerekeinek.
He read the poem to the audience.
Learner examples
Please read this sentence aloud.
Kérlek, olvasd fel ezt a mondatot.
She reads to her little brother every day.
Mindennap felolvas a kisöccsének.
He reads the story to the class.
Meaning
Speak written words aloud
Collocations
read aloud
|read to children
|read poetry
Synonyms
recite (To repeat from memory or read aloud, often in a formal setting.)
Antonyms
remain silent (To not speak or vocalize words.)
Themes
communication
|education
Definition
To look at words and say them so other people can hear.
To speak aloud the words that are written or printed.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to read [a map/a gauge/a signal]
She can read a map very well.
Nagyon jól tud térképet olvasni.
The technician read the pressure gauge.
A technikus leolvasta az értéket a nyomásmérőről.
I can't read his facial expression.
Learner examples
I can read this map easily.
Könnyen eligazodom ezen a térképen.
He reads the clock on the wall.
Leolvassa az időt a falióráról.
She reads his face and knows he is sad.
Meaning
Interpret signs or information
Collocations
read a map
|read a clock
|read body language
Synonyms
interpret (Focuses on explaining meaning rather than just recognizing it.)
Antonyms
misinterpret (To understand incorrectly.)
Themes
technology
|navigation
|communication
Definition
To understand information from something like a sign, clock, or machine.
To understand or interpret information from signs, symbols, devices, or other non-textual sources.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
'It reads [as/like] [something]'
The sign reads 'No Parking'.
A táblán ez áll: „Tilos parkolni”.
Her note reads like a love letter.
Az üzenete olyan, mintha szerelmes levél lenne.
The label reads 'Made in Italy'.
Learner examples
The book cover reads 'Harry Potter'.
A könyv borítóján ez áll: „Harry Potter”.
The sign reads 'Stop'.
A táblán ez áll: „Stop”.
The card reads 'Happy Birthday'.
Meaning
Be worded in writing
Collocations
the sign reads
|the label reads
Synonyms
state (Neutral term for expressing something in words.)
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To say something in a certain way when you look at the writing.
To be stated, phrased, or worded in a particular way in writing or print.
NOUN
B1
5
That book was a really good read.
Az a könyv igazán jó olvasmány volt.
I had a quick read of your report.
Gyorsan átolvastam a jelentésedet.
It's worth a second read.
Learner examples
This book is a good read.
Ez a könyv jó olvasmány.
I have a read before bed.
Lefekvés előtt olvasok egy kicsit.
That was an easy read.
Meaning
An act of reading text
Collocations
a good read
|have a read
Synonyms
perusal (More formal; implies careful reading.)
Themes
communication
|education
Definition
A time when you read something.
An occasion of reading written or printed material.
Grammar
Dictionary form
read
IPA
GB/ɹˈid/
US/ɹˈid/
Syllables & stress
read (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (read)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: read
- Plural: reads
Verb
- Base: read
- 3rd Person Singular: reads
- Present Participle: reading
- Past: read
- Past Participle: read
Word family
Forms
reads
noun
reading
verb A1
Related words
reread
verb
misread
verb
Negative and opposite forms
unread
adjective
unreadable
adjective
Advanced or less common
readership
noun B2
Highlights
- Irregular past: read Verb
- Irregular past participle: read Verb
Expressions
read out
1/ɹˈid ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Read written words aloud to others
To say words from writing so other people can hear them.
Examples
- The teacher read out the names of the winners.
- He read out the announcement clearly.
read over
1/ɹˈid ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
Examine written material carefully
To look at something written from start to end to check it or understand it better.
Examples
- Please read over your essay before handing it in.
- I read over the contract twice before signing.
read up on
1/ɹˈid ˈʌp ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
Study a subject by reading about it
To get information about something by reading about it.
Examples
- I need to read up on Italian history before my trip.
- She’s been reading up on gardening techniques.
read between the lines
1/ɹˈid bɪtwˈin ðə lˈaɪnz/
idiom
Find hidden meaning in text/speech
To understand a hidden meaning in what someone writes or says.
Examples
- If you read between the lines, you can tell she’s unhappy.
- Reading between the lines, I think they’re planning to move.
read between the lines
1/ɹˈid bɪtwˈin ðə lˈaɪnz/
idiom
Infer hidden meaning
To understand what someone really means, even if they do not say it clearly.
Examples
- If you read between the lines, his email is actually a complaint.
- Reading between the lines, I don't think they want to hire more staff.
- The report sounds positive, but investors read between the lines and became worried.
Learner examples
- Read between the lines: she is unhappy.
- I can read between the lines.
read between the lines
2/ɹˈid bɪtwˈin ðə lˈaɪnz/
idiom
Understand hidden meaning not stated directly
To understand what someone really means even if they don't say it directly.
Examples
- If you read between the lines, you can tell she’s upset.
- Reading between the lines, his letter sounds like he’s not happy here.