[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/peruse/)

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# peruse

verb (peruse, peruses, perused, perusing)

«peruse» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) To read or look at something carefully and in detail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peruse/#m1)
2. (informal, common use) To look through something casually or browse: perusing the shelves of a shop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peruse/#m2)

### In the lessons

A formal, slightly old-fashioned word heard in exam instructions and stories: «Peruse the passage before answering». In stories a character peruses a menu, a map or a letter. Many people now use it to mean «skim» or «browse», so its meaning has two sides. In maths it never changes the numbers; it means read the problem carefully. Phrases: «peruse the menu», «peruse the document», «peruse at your leisure».

### Examples

- Please peruse the instructions before you start. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peruse/#x1)
- Dad perused the menu for ages. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peruse/#x2)
- The detective perused the letter for clues. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peruse/#x3)
- We perused the books at the school fair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peruse/#x4)
- She perused the map to find the shortest road. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peruse/#x5)
- Take a moment to peruse the questions. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peruse/#x6)
- Grandma likes perusing the newspaper over breakfast. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peruse/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb: perused. Trap: its original meaning is to read carefully, but many people use it for «glance through» — the opposite. In exams, read it as «read carefully». Noun: perusal.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «peruse» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peruse/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«peruse» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/peruse.html) on Mova free.