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 RayExamples 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
The publication then asked readers to vote for their top picks.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2025
This is among the more expansive foreign policy debates into which readers have had visibility since the administration began.
—New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
The businesses were selected by readers and editorial staffers.
—Jonathan Shikes, The Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2025
For publishers, the fear is that powerful chatbots that can quickly summarize news articles when queried will mean that readers visit news websites less often, prompting a drop in advertising that could affect the industry's bottom line.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reader
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Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2025
This is among the more expansive foreign policy debates into which readers have had visibility since the administration began.
—New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
The businesses were selected by readers and editorial staffers.
—Jonathan Shikes, The Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2025
For publishers, the fear is that powerful chatbots that can quickly summarize news articles when queried will mean that readers visit news websites less often, prompting a drop in advertising that could affect the industry's bottom line.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reader
Cite this Entry
“Reader.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reader. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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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