lip-read

verb

ˈlip-ˌrēd 

lip-read ˈlip-ˌred  ; lip-reading ˈlip-ˌrē-diŋ 

transitive verb

: to understand by lipreading

intransitive verb

: to use lipreading

lip-reader

ˈlip-ˌrē-dər 

noun

Examples of lip-read in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Taylor Swift fans have claimed to have been able to lip-read what the singer and Travis Kelce said to each other after the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills Sunday night. —Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

The actresses — who were the target of separate lip-reading rumors at the Golden Globes last weekend — poked fun at all the commotion online by posing for a cheeky photo together at the 2023 American Film Institute Awards in Los Angeles on Friday. —EW.com, 13 Jan. 2024

The idea that there was a snub gained traction Monday when people on the internet, as well as Freeman, whom Page Six identified Monday as a lip-reading expert, viewed one or more of the video clips that have been circulating on social media. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2024

The Broadway vet proceeds to show off her lip-reading skills by reading the lips of attorny Kristin VanOrman and Gwyneth Paltrow from the actress’ 2023 ski collision trial. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Jan. 2024

Jacob Elordi lip-reads celebrities including Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce On a mock TV entertainment news show, two hosts brought on Elordi and SNL cast member Bowen Yang as professional lip-readers with hilariously bad interpretations of celebrity moments. —TIME, 21 Jan. 2024

Emily Blunt got caught up in lip-reading speculation, too, and the actors joked about it together at the American Film Institute Awards. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 16 Jan. 2024

The exchange was inaudible, however lip-reading fans on the internet are convinced that the Only Murders in the Building actress was telling Swift that the Kardashians star had said no to Gomez’s request for a photo with Chalamet. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 9 Jan. 2024

Judge your lip-reading skills below to see if the claims hold up. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for lip-read

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bloodshed
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead

Kids Definition

lip-read

verb

ˈlip-ˌrēd

lip-read

-ˌred

; lip-reading

-ˌrēd-iŋ

: to use lipreading to understand a speaker's words

lip-reader

-ˌrēd-ər

noun

Medical Definition

lip-read

verb

ˈlip-ˌrēd 

lip-read -ˌred  ; lip-reading -ˌrēd-iŋ 

transitive verb

: to understand by lipreading

intransitive verb

: to use lipreading