Peruse is a verb, referring to either the casual or the thorough and detailed examining of something. The related noun meaning "the act or an instance of perusing something" is perusal.

PERUSE definition: to read through with thoroughness or care. See examples of peruse used in a sentence.

He opened the newspaper and perused the sports pages. Peruse can also mean to read carefully in a detailed way.

pe·rus′al n. pe·rus′er n. Usage Note: Peruse has long meant "to read thoroughly," as in He perused the contract until he was satisfied that it met all of his requirements, which was …

peruse something to read something, especially in a careful way. A copy of the report is available for you to peruse at your leisure. Definition of peruse verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's …

One common object of study was, of course, the book, and by the early 1500s, peruse had come to mean, simply, "to read through or over." When a writer meant to convey something about …

Factsheet What does the noun peruse mean? There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun peruse. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Traditionally, peruse has meant to read or examine something carefully. But informally, it can have the opposite meaning, to read something casually and quickly. To understand the two …

Dec 17, 2025 · peruse (plural peruses) An examination or perusal; an instance of perusing. quotations

peruse meaning, definition, what is peruse: to read something, especially in a caref...: Learn more.