Read and read  are two words that are spelled identically but are pronounced differently and have different meaningswhich makes them heteronyms. We will examine the definitions of the words read and readwhere these words came fromand a few examples of their use in sentences.

Read (reed) means to look at printed symbols and interpret their meaning. The word read may be used figuratively to mean to discern the gist of a situation. Read may be used as a noun or a transitive verbwhich is a verb that takes an object. Related words are readsreadreadingreader. The word read is derived from the Old English word rǣdanwhich means to adviseto guideto explain.

Read (red) is the past tense of the verbread.

Examples

And yet for reasons that include politicspartisanship and personal experiencemost American children are taught to read in a way that study after study has found to be wrong. (The Economist)

Many teachers reported that online delivery reduced their ability to ‘read the room’. (Mirage News)

He is the direct descendant of John Taylor Gilmanwho read the Declaration of Independence to the townspeople of Exeter on July 161776. (Carriage Towne News)

She visited East Grand Forks schoolswhere she read books to students and told them about programs available at the library. (Grand Forks Herald)