1
a
: one that reads
b
: one appointed to read to others: such as
(1)
: lector
(2)
: one chosen to read aloud selected material in a Christian Science church or society
c(1)
(2)
: one who evaluates manuscripts
(3)
: one who reads periodical literature to discover items of special interest or value
d
: an employee who reads and records the indications of meters
e
: a teacher's assistant who reads and marks student papers
2
British
: one who reads lectures or expounds subjects to students
3
a
: a device for projecting a readable image of a transparency
b
: an electronic device that scans coded information (as on punch cards or bar codes) for storage or computation
5
readers plural
: eyeglasses used for reading or close work : reading glasses
Gilda came back with a pair of readers and, looking through her glasses, gave my eyelids serious consideration.—
Jeanne Ray
Jeanne RaySynonyms
Examples of reader in a Sentence
The book's ending leaves readers to draw their own conclusions.
a magazine with three million readers
Recent Examples on the Web
Their names remained unknown until 1979, when a reader wrote to The Times identifying the newsboy as Andrew Azzoni, whose father was a waiter at a nightspot frequented by Troubetzkoy.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Dearest gentle readers, Penelope and Colin enter into a unique agreement in the Bridgerton season three trailer.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
If a gun seller uses merchant services like a credit card reader or frequently rents space at a gun show, or repetitively acquires and sells firearms, that person is considered a dealer − and must now do background checks.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Each month, the SELF Well-Read Book Club highlights a timely, delightful, and crucial book on a subject that helps readers live better lives.
—Grace McCarty, SELF, 11 Apr. 2024
Dear gentle readers, the wait for the Bridgerton Season Three trailer is finally over.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
Each is considered special by a very particular subset of readers.
—Ilana Masad, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2024
But within minutes of the story’s publication, readers took to the comments section to post their own memories of having witnessed the phenomenon.
—Phoebe Zerwick, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Until then, the record had belonged to a copy of Amazing Fantasy No. 15—which introduced readers to Spider-Man in 1962—that sold for $3.6 million in 2021.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024
Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Dearest gentle readers, Penelope and Colin enter into a unique agreement in the Bridgerton season three trailer.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
If a gun seller uses merchant services like a credit card reader or frequently rents space at a gun show, or repetitively acquires and sells firearms, that person is considered a dealer − and must now do background checks.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Each month, the SELF Well-Read Book Club highlights a timely, delightful, and crucial book on a subject that helps readers live better lives.
—Grace McCarty, SELF, 11 Apr. 2024
Dear gentle readers, the wait for the Bridgerton Season Three trailer is finally over.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
Each is considered special by a very particular subset of readers.
—Ilana Masad, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2024
But within minutes of the story’s publication, readers took to the comments section to post their own memories of having witnessed the phenomenon.
—Phoebe Zerwick, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Until then, the record had belonged to a copy of Amazing Fantasy No. 15—which introduced readers to Spider-Man in 1962—that sold for $3.6 million in 2021.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reader.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near reader
Cite this Entry
“Reader.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reader. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reader
noun
read·er
ˈrēd-ər 
1
: a person who reads
2
a
: a device that makes a readable image
a microfilm reader
b
: a machine for acquiring data (as for a computer)
a card reader
3
: a book for learning or practicing reading
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