reading
gb/ɹˈidɪŋ/ us/ɹˈidɪŋ/
A1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
action
1
Understanding written words
The activity of understanding words in books, articles, messages, and other texts.
Usage pattern:
reading; reading for pleasure; do some reading; reading [books/articles]; reading aloud
Common mistake:
For the hobby or activity, say "I like reading," not "I like a reading."
Synonyms
perusal (More formal; emphasizes looking through or reading something carefully.)
|
literacy (Refers to the ability to read and write, not the activity itself.)
Antonyms
illiteracy (The inability to read and write.)
Collocations
reading skills
|reading comprehension
|reading practice
|reading ability
|reading habits
|reading speed
|pleasure reading
|silent reading
|reading aloud
|do some reading
Themes
education
|communication
|daily_life
Examples
- Reading before bed helps me relax.
- The school is trying to improve children's reading skills.
- She spends most of her commute reading on her phone.
Learner examples
- I enjoy reading books.
- Reading is important at school.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Texts to be read
Books, articles, or other texts that you read, especially for a class or subject.
Usage pattern:
[assigned/recommended/further] reading; readings for [course/class]; [something] makes [interesting/heavy] reading
Common mistake:
In education, plural "readings" often means separate assigned texts.
Synonyms
reading material (A clear, general term for texts to be read.)
|
texts (Common in education; usually refers to specific written works.)
|
literature (Can mean written material on a subject or creative writing.)
Collocations
assigned reading
|required reading
|recommended reading
|further reading
|background reading
|course readings
|weekly readings
|reading material
|light reading
|heavy reading
Themes
education
|books
|work
Examples
- The professor posted this week's readings online.
- The article is useful background reading for the meeting.
- The report makes uncomfortable reading for the company.
Learner examples
- We have three readings for Monday.
- This book is easy reading.
Noun
B2
abstract
3
Interpretation of something
Someone's opinion about what something means.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s reading of [something]; a [literal/alternative/close] reading of [text/situation/evidence]
Common mistake:
Use "a reading of something" for an interpretation, not usually "a reading about something."
Synonyms
interpretation (The most direct synonym; can apply to texts, facts, and events.)
|
understanding (More general and less analytical.)
|
analysis (Emphasizes careful examination and explanation.)
Antonyms
misreading (An incorrect interpretation or misunderstanding.)
Collocations
my reading of the situation
|a close reading
|a literal reading
|an alternative reading
|a careful reading
|a narrow reading
|a plausible reading
|a reading of the evidence
|a reading of the text
|a political reading
Themes
communication
|analysis
|opinions
Examples
- My reading of the data is that customers are spending less.
- That's a very narrow reading of the rule.
- Her reading of the poem focuses on grief and memory.
Learner examples
- What is your reading of the problem?
- His reading of the story was different from mine.
Noun
B1
quantity
4
Instrument measurement result
A number shown by a machine, meter, or test.
Usage pattern:
[meter/temperature/blood pressure] reading; take a reading; a reading of [number]
Common mistake:
The common phrase is "take a reading," not usually "make a reading."
Synonyms
measurement (More general; can refer to the act or the result.)
|
figure (Informal-neutral; emphasizes the number.)
|
result (General term for what a test or device shows.)
Collocations
meter reading
|temperature reading
|blood pressure reading
|pressure reading
|sensor reading
|odometer reading
|accurate reading
|digital reading
|high reading
|take a reading
Themes
measurement
|technology
|health
|science
Examples
- The nurse took a blood pressure reading.
- The meter reading was much higher than last month.
- The app records temperature readings every ten minutes.
Learner examples
- The reading was 38 degrees.
- Please take a meter reading.
Noun
B1
event
5
Public reading aloud
An event where someone reads a story, poem, or other text to people.
Usage pattern:
a reading by [author/poet]; give a reading from [work]; go to a [poetry/book] reading
Common mistake:
A reading focuses on reading a text aloud; a lecture usually explains or teaches a topic.
Synonyms
recital (Often more formal and can involve music or memorized performance.)
|
performance (Broader; includes many kinds of public presentation.)
Collocations
poetry reading
|public reading
|book reading
|author reading
|live reading
|dramatic reading
|give a reading
|attend a reading
|reading tour
|reading series
Themes
arts
|books
|events
|performance
Examples
- The bookstore hosted a reading by a local poet.
- We went to a poetry reading downtown.
- She gave a short reading from her new novel.
Learner examples
- I went to a book reading.
- The poet gave a reading.
Noun
B2
entity
6
Passage read aloud
A piece of writing that someone reads aloud at a ceremony or service.
Usage pattern:
a reading from [text]; [wedding/funeral/church/Bible] reading; the first/second reading
Common mistake:
Do not confuse "a reading" meaning the passage with "a reader," the person who reads it.
Synonyms
passage (A section of text; it may or may not be read aloud.)
|
lesson (Used in some Christian services for a scripture passage.)
|
selection (A chosen piece from a longer work.)
Collocations
Bible reading
|Gospel reading
|scripture reading
|wedding reading
|funeral reading
|church reading
|selected readings
|the first reading
|the second reading
|a reading from a poem
Themes
ceremonies
|religion
|books
Examples
- The first reading at the wedding was from a poem.
- She chose two readings for the memorial service.
- Today's Gospel reading is about forgiveness.
Learner examples
- He read a short reading at the wedding.
- The church reading was from the Bible.
Noun
B2
event
7
Psychic advice session
A meeting where a psychic, tarot reader, or similar person gives advice or predictions.
Usage pattern:
a [tarot/psychic/palm/astrology] reading; get/book a reading
Common mistake:
This sense is countable: "a reading," "two readings."
Synonyms
psychic consultation (More explicit and slightly more formal.)
|
fortune-telling session (Emphasizes predictions about the future.)
|
divination (More formal or technical; refers to the practice generally.)
Collocations
tarot reading
|psychic reading
|palm reading
|astrology reading
|card reading
|birth chart reading
|get a reading
|book a reading
|online reading
|free reading
Themes
spirituality
|entertainment
|beliefs
Examples
- I booked a tarot reading for fun.
- The psychic reading was vague, but my friend enjoyed it.
- She offers astrology readings online.
Learner examples
- She got a tarot reading.
- The reading lasted one hour.
Noun
formal
C1
event
8
Legislative bill stage
A formal step in parliament or a legislature when a proposed law is considered.
Usage pattern:
the [first/second/third] reading of [bill]; [bill] passes its [second/third] reading
Common mistake:
This is a political and legal use; it does not simply mean someone reads the bill silently.
Synonyms
stage (More general; does not specify the legislative procedure.)
|
legislative reading (More explicit term for this formal process.)
Collocations
first reading
|second reading
|third reading
|bill's reading
|parliamentary reading
|committee reading
|pass its reading
|reading of the bill
|reading stage
|debate on second reading
Themes
government
|law
|politics
Examples
- The bill passed its second reading by a narrow margin.
- MPs debated the proposal during its first reading.
- The amendment was added before the third reading.
Learner examples
- The bill had its first reading today.
- The law passed its final reading.
Grammar
Dictionary form
reading
IPA
GB/ɹˈidɪŋ/
US/ɹˈidɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
read - ing (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (read)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: reading
- Plural: reading, readings
Expressions
light reading
1/lˈaɪt ɹˈidɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Easy entertaining reading
Something easy and relaxing to read.
Examples
- I packed a mystery novel for some light reading on the beach.
- After a long day, I wanted light reading, not a history textbook.
- The magazine makes good light reading on the train.
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.
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.
read the room
1/ɹˈid ðə ɹˈum/
idiom
informal
Sense social mood
To understand how people in a place feel and act in the right way.
Examples
- He kept making jokes after the bad news, so someone told him to read the room.
- A good presenter knows how to read the room and adjust the tone.
- She is excellent at reading the room during difficult meetings.
reading comprehension
1/ɹˈidɪŋ kˌɑmpɹihˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
understanding written texts
How well someone understands what they read.
Examples
- The test measures students’ reading comprehension, not their speed.
- Good vocabulary is essential for strong reading comprehension.
reading comprehension
1/ɹˈidɪŋ kˌɑmpɹihˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
Understanding written text
The skill of understanding what you read.
Examples
- The test measures vocabulary and reading comprehension.
- Children improve their reading comprehension by discussing stories.
- The article was too difficult for my current reading comprehension level.
reading glasses
1/ɹˈidɪŋ ɡlˈæsɪz/
fixed phrase
Glasses for close text
Glasses that help you see words or small things close to you.
Examples
- I need my reading glasses to see the menu.
- She bought a cheap pair of reading glasses at the pharmacy.
- He put on his reading glasses and checked the message.
reading level
1/ɹˈidɪŋ lˈɛvəl/
fixed phrase
Text or reader difficulty
How difficult a text is to read, or how well a person can read.
Examples
- The book is written at a fifth-grade reading level.
- The teacher chose stories that matched the students' reading level.
- Some government websites try to lower the reading level of their forms.
reading list
1/ɹˈidɪŋ lˈɪst/
fixed phrase
List of texts
A list of books or articles to read.
Examples
- The teacher gave us a reading list for the summer.
- I added two new articles to the course reading list.
- Her book is on every serious student's reading list.
required reading
1/ɹikwˈaɪɚd ɹˈidɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Essential assigned text
Something you have to read, or something very important to read.
Examples
- The safety manual is required reading for all new employees.
- This chapter is required reading before the exam.
- Her essay became required reading for anyone studying modern feminism.