misread

verb

mis·​read ˌmis-ˈrēd 

misread ˌmis-ˈred  ; misreading ˌmis-ˈrē-diŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to read incorrectly

2

: to misinterpret in or as if in reading

totally misread the lesson of history

—Christopher Hollis

Synonyms

• misapprehend
• misconstrue
• misinterpret
• misknow
• misperceive
• miss
• mistake
• misunderstand

Examples of misread in a Sentence

I guess I misread the instructions.

They have misread the lessons of the past.

Politicians may have misread the mood of the public.

I badly misread the situation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Miami Marlins first baseman Matt Mervis misread a throw from shortstop Xavier Edwards during the top of the fifth inning in the team's 6-1 loss to the Athletics on Friday and paid dearly for it. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025

Within the museum, beauty can be misread and reverence does not always mean recognition. —Najha Zigbi-Johnson, Essence, 30 Apr. 2025

But again, your partner might misread it as disinterest or punishment. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Millet said the administration had potentially misread the AEA and that the individuals who were flown to El Salvador should have been given the right to due process, echoing Boasberg's words. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for misread

• accede
• agreed
• airspeed
• alkyd
• bindweed
• chickweed
• concede
• decreed
• duckweed
• exceed
• flaxseed
• impede

Kids Definition

misread

verb

mis·​read (ˈ)mis-ˈrēd 

misread -ˈred  ; misreading -ˈrēd-iŋ 

1

: to read incorrectly

2

: to misinterpret in or as if in reading