reader
reader
Pronunciation
/ˈriːdər/
Rea- /riː/
-der /dər/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: reader
Plural Noun: readers
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Reader (singular):
A person who engages with written material: Someone who looks at and comprehends text, whether for information, pleasure, or study.
Synonyms: bibliophile, bookworm, scholar, literate person, student, browser, peruser.
Antonyms: illiterate, nonreader.
A person who is a regular consumer of a publication or service: An individual who subscribes to or frequently reads a newspaper, magazine, book series, or uses a digital platform.
Synonyms: subscriber, patron, follower, customer, client.
Antonyms: casual observer, non-user.
A device designed to process or display information from a specific medium: A machine or electronic gadget that can interpret and show data from cards, microforms, barcodes, or other digital formats.
Synonyms: scanner, interpreter, display unit, device, machine.
Antonyms: (None directly applicable, as it refers to a functional object rather than a conceptual opposite.)
A textbook or collection of writings used for educational purposes: A book specifically compiled to teach reading skills, or an anthology of texts on a particular subject.
Synonyms: primer, textbook, anthology, compilation, collection, coursebook.
Antonyms: (None directly applicable, as it refers to a type of book.)
A person who evaluates manuscripts for a publisher or production company: An individual employed to assess the suitability of submitted texts for publication or production.
Synonyms: reviewer, editor, proofreader, manuscript evaluator.
Antonyms: author, writer (in this specific context of evaluation).
In academia, a senior lecturer at certain universities (especially British): A teaching position ranking below a professor.
Synonyms: lecturer, academic, instructor, don, associate professor (US equivalent).
Antonyms: student, professor (in a hierarchical sense).
In a religious context, one appointed to read lessons or scriptures: A person who reads aloud from sacred texts during a church service.
Synonyms: lector, speaker, reciter, minister (in a broader sense of leading service).
Antonyms: congregant, listener.
A person who has a psychic ability to perceive thoughts or fortunes: Someone who claims to be able to discern hidden information or predict the future, often through methods like palmistry or tarot.
Synonyms: clairvoyant, psychic, fortune teller, mind reader, palmist.
Antonyms: skeptic, non-believer.
Readers (plural):
The plural form of all the noun definitions above. For example, "the readers of this newspaper," "two barcode readers," "a series of graded readers."
Other related word forms (often used as compound nouns or with modifiers):
Readership (noun): The total number or type of people who read a particular publication or author.
Synonyms: audience, public, consumer base.
Antonyms: (None directly applicable.)
Reading (noun):
The act of perusing written material.
A particular interpretation or understanding of something.
A public recitation or presentation of written work.
Synonyms (act): perusal, study, absorption.
Synonyms (interpretation): interpretation, version, rendition, take.
Synonyms (recitation): recital, presentation, performance.
Antonyms (act): writing, listening.
Antonyms (interpretation): misinterpretation, misunderstanding.
Readable (adjective): Easy or enjoyable to read.
Synonyms: legible, comprehensible, clear, engaging, fluid.
Antonyms: unreadable, illegible, obscure, impenetrable, tedious.
Examples of Use
Books
"The author has a keen understanding of what engages a young reader." (From a book review of The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, published in The New York Times Book Review, February 2017)
"This historical fiction aims to transport the reader to ancient Rome, making the era feel vibrantly alive." (From the foreword of SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard, October 2015)
"The collection of short stories is intended as a supplementary reader for students of English literature." (From the syllabus for "Introduction to Fiction" at a university, September 2023)
Newspapers
"Many newspaper readers expressed frustration with the new digital subscription model." (The Wall Street Journal)
"The editor's letter often engages directly with letters from readers, fostering a sense of community." (The Guardian)
Online Publications
"Our tech team is developing a new e-book reader app with enhanced annotation features." (TechCrunch.com)
"The blog post generated a lively discussion among its readers in the comments section." (Medium.com)
"A dedicated PDF reader can significantly improve productivity for professionals." (Lifehacker.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
"The podcast often refers to its loyal listeners as 'audio readers,' given the narrative nature of the show." (From a promotional tweet for the podcast "Lore,")
"This graphic novel challenges the traditional reader's perspective by frequently shifting art styles." (Review of Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples on ComicsBeat.com)
"The popular video game includes an in-game lore reader where players can delve deeper into the narrative." (IGN.com review of "Elden Ring,")
"The new Kindle Paperwhite is still the best e-reader for most people." (The Verge)
General Public Discourse
"As a lifelong reader, I find immense comfort and escape within the pages of a good book." (Comment from a participant in a book club discussion)
"The librarian highly recommends this book for any aspiring young reader." (Public library event announcement)
"The psychic was advertised as a 'mind reader' at the local fair, offering glimpses into people's futures." (Local news report on a community event)
"We need to consider the diverse backgrounds of our readers when crafting our educational materials." (Statement by an educator at a curriculum development meeting)
10 Quotes Using Reader
"The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being, and the unexamined text is not worth reading for a reader." (Susan Sontag, As Consciousness Is Harnessed to Flesh, 2003)
"Every reader finds himself." (Marcel Proust, Contre Sainte-Beuve, 1954 - posthumously published)
"A good book is an event in the life of a reader." (Stendhal, Rome, Naples et Florence en 1817, 1817)
"The reader is the chief actor." (Jorge Luis Borges, "The Homeric Versions" in Labyrinths, 1962)
"A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it." (Samuel Johnson, attributed)
"No one is a reader who has not learned to read with his body, that is to say, with his eyes, his ears, his throat, his stomach, his limbs, his muscles." (Roland Barthes, The Pleasure of the Text, 1973)
"To be a reader is to surrender to the text, to be willing to be led." (Umberto Eco, Six Walks in the Fictional Woods, 1994)
"Poetry is what happens when nothing else can. It is a dialogue between the poet and the reader, and it is this dialogue that creates the poem." (Mary Ruefle, Madness, Rack, and Honey, 2012)
"The responsibility for understanding lies with the reader." (Ezra Pound, ABC of Reading, 1934)
"An intelligent reader can be easily confused." (Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore, 2002)
Etymology
The word "reader" has a long history, going back to Old English. It essentially combines the verb "read" with the suffix "-er," which means "one who does" something. So, at its core, a "reader" is simply "one who reads."
The earliest known uses of the word, appearing before the 12th century (in the Old English period), had a few interesting meanings:
A person who reads aloud to others: Back then, many people couldn't read, so someone who could would often read texts to a group. This was a common role, especially in religious settings.
A scholar or learned person: Because reading and writing were not widespread, being a "reader" often implied a level of education and wisdom.
A diviner or interpreter: In some cases, "reader" also referred to someone who could "read" or interpret signs, omens, or even riddles to understand hidden meanings or predict the future. This connects to an older sense of "read" meaning "to counsel" or "to interpret."
Over time, as literacy became more common, the meaning of "reader" broadened to simply refer to anyone who engages with written material. Later, it also took on specialized meanings like a "reading book" for schools, a "proofreader," or a specific academic rank in British universities.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Reader
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "reader":
Mind reader: Someone who seems to know what another person is thinking without being told.
Speed reader: A person who can read very quickly.
Proofreader's mark: A symbol used by a proofreader to indicate a correction needed in a text.
The gentle reader: A traditional, sometimes slightly ironic, way for an author to address their audience in a text.
Advanced reader copy (ARC): An uncorrected proof of a book distributed to reviewers before publication.
E-reader: An electronic device designed for reading e-books.
Barcode reader: A device that scans and decodes barcodes.
Card reader: A device that reads data from a card, such as a credit card or ID card.
Ghost reader: (Lesser-known/original) Someone who secretly reads private correspondence or drafts.
Keen reader: Someone who reads a lot and has a strong interest in books or written material.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of reader from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
