Explanation at your level:
You use peruse when you read something very carefully. If you look at every word in a book, you are perusing it. It is a special word for reading slowly.
When you peruse a document, you read it to understand all the details. We often use this word for important papers or long lists. It is more formal than just saying 'read'.
To peruse means to examine something in detail. It is often used in professional settings. For example, you might 'peruse a contract' to make sure you agree with all the rules. It shows you are being very careful.
The verb peruse implies a thorough examination. While many people use it to mean 'skim,' in formal English, it strictly means the opposite: reading with great attention to detail. It is a great word to use in cover letters or formal reports.
Peruse is an excellent example of register. In academic or legal contexts, it denotes a rigorous engagement with a text. Using it correctly demonstrates a high level of vocabulary control, as it distinguishes between passive reading and active, critical analysis.
The etymological journey of peruse—from 'using up' to 'scrutinizing'—highlights the nuance of the term. In C2 English, it is used to convey a sense of meticulousness. It is often found in literary criticism or high-stakes legal correspondence where the distinction between 'reading' and 'perusing' is vital for clarity and precision.
30초 단어
- Means to read carefully
- Formal register
- Often misused as 'skim'
- Noun form is perusal
When you peruse something, you aren't just skimming it; you are giving it your full attention. Think of it as the opposite of a quick glance.
You might peruse a menu at a fancy restaurant, a legal contract before signing it, or a detailed report at work. It implies a sense of thoroughness and patience.
The word peruse has a fascinating history. It comes from the Middle English word perusen, which originally meant 'to use up' or 'to wear out.' It is linked to the prefix per- (meaning 'thoroughly') and use.
Over centuries, the meaning shifted from 'using something until it is gone' to 'examining something thoroughly through reading.' It is a great example of how language evolves from physical actions to abstract cognitive ones.
Peruse is generally considered a formal or elevated word. You are more likely to see it in a business email or a book than in a text message to a friend.
Common collocations include perusing a document, perusing a list, or perusing the shelves. Because it sounds sophisticated, using it correctly can make your writing feel more professional.
While peruse itself is not a core part of many idioms, it appears in formal expressions:
- For your perusal: A common way to introduce a document you want someone to read.
- Upon perusal: Used to describe the moment after you have finished reading something.
- Careful perusal: Emphasizing that the reading was done with extreme attention.
- A quick perusal: A slightly oxymoronic phrase used to mean a short but focused look.
- Subject to perusal: Indicating that something must be checked before a decision is made.
Peruse is a regular verb. Its past tense is perused and its present participle is perusing. It is a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object (e.g., 'I perused the book').
In IPA, it is /pəˈruːz/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with refuse (the verb), amuse, and accuse.
Fun Fact
It shifted from a physical action to a mental one over 500 years.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'puh-ROOZ'
Sounds like 'puh-ROOZ'
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing as 'PEER-use'
- Mispronouncing as 'PURR-use'
- Putting stress on the first syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Formal word
Requires formal context
Used in professional speech
Used in lectures
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
고급
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
I perused the book.
Adverb Placement
Carefully perused.
Formal Register
Using formal words.
Examples by Level
I peruse the book.
I read carefully.
Verb usage.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Please peruse this menu.
I like to peruse the news.
She perused the letter.
He perused the map.
We perused the list.
They perused the rules.
Did you peruse it?
I will peruse the file.
I perused the contract before signing.
She perused the report for errors.
He perused the shelves for a gift.
We perused the agenda.
They perused the fine print.
Please peruse these documents.
I perused the notes carefully.
He perused the emails.
The committee perused the findings.
She perused the manuscript for hours.
He perused the legal terms.
They perused the data thoroughly.
I perused the itinerary.
We perused the proposal.
She perused the archives.
He perused the regulations.
The scholar perused the ancient scrolls.
The lawyer perused the evidence.
She perused the complex contract.
They perused the audit report.
He perused the subtle changes.
We perused the policy manual.
I perused the detailed feedback.
She perused the fine details.
The critic perused the text for hidden meanings.
The board perused the merger documents.
He perused the philosophical essay.
She perused the historical records.
They perused the intricate clauses.
I perused the lengthy transcript.
We perused the complex arguments.
He perused the dense literature.
자주 쓰는 조합
Idioms & Expressions
"For your perusal"
For you to read
I have attached the file for your perusal.
formal"Upon perusal"
After reading
Upon perusal, I found an error.
formal"A quick perusal"
A short look
A quick perusal revealed the truth.
neutral"Subject to perusal"
Needs to be checked
The draft is subject to perusal.
formal"Careful perusal"
Very attentive reading
It requires careful perusal.
formal"Worth a perusal"
Good enough to read
This book is worth a perusal.
neutralEasily Confused
Often used interchangeably
Skim is fast, peruse is slow
Skim the headlines, peruse the article.
Both involve looking
Browse is casual, peruse is formal
Browse the shop, peruse the contract.
Similar meaning
Examine is physical, peruse is reading
Examine the object, peruse the paper.
Both mean looking over
Review is to check again, peruse is to read now
Review the notes, peruse the book.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + peruse + object
I perused the file.
Adverb + peruse + object
He carefully perused it.
Peruse + object + for + purpose
I perused the list for errors.
Subject + will + peruse + object
She will peruse the report.
Please + peruse + object
Please peruse the attached file.
어휘 가족
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
관련
How to Use It
6
Formality Scale
자주 하는 실수
Peruse means the opposite of skimming.
Peruse is transitive, no preposition needed.
Do not add 'for' after peruse.
Peruse is a verb.
Peruse is too formal for casual talk.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a scholar in a library.
When Native Speakers Use It
In business emails.
Cultural Insight
It sounds intelligent.
Grammar Shortcut
No 'at' or 'for' after it.
Say It Right
Stress the second syllable.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for skimming.
Did You Know?
It used to mean 'use up'.
Study Smart
Use it in your next essay.
Formal Context
Use it in cover letters.
Rhyme Time
Rhymes with 'refuse'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
PER-use: PERfectly USE your eyes.
Visual Association
A detective with a magnifying glass.
Word Web
챌린지
Peruse a news article today.
어원
Middle English
Original meaning: To use up or wear out
문화적 맥락
None.
Used in professional and legal settings.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- Peruse the report
- Peruse the agenda
- Peruse the email
Legal
- Peruse the contract
- Peruse the terms
- Peruse the evidence
School
- Peruse the textbook
- Peruse the notes
- Peruse the assignment
Library
- Peruse the shelves
- Peruse the catalog
- Peruse the journals
Conversation Starters
"Have you had a chance to peruse the document?"
"What do you peruse when you have free time?"
"Do you prefer to peruse books or e-readers?"
"Why is it important to peruse contracts?"
"What was the last thing you perused?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you had to peruse a difficult document.
Why do people often confuse 'peruse' with 'skim'?
Write about the benefits of perusing versus skimming.
How does your reading style change when you peruse?
자주 묻는 질문
8 질문No, it means the opposite.
Yes, very formal.
No, it is for reading.
Perusal.
It is common in formal writing.
Yes.
Both.
No, just 'peruse'.
셀프 테스트
I will ___ the book.
Peruse means to read.
What does peruse mean?
It means to read carefully.
Peruse means to skim quickly.
It means the opposite.
Word
뜻
Match the word to meaning.
Subject-verb-object.
Please ___ the document.
Need a verb.
Peruse is a transitive verb.
It needs an object.
Which is a synonym?
Scrutinize is a synonym.
Adverb placement.
The noun form is ___.
Perusal is the noun.
점수: /10
Summary
Peruse means to read with great attention, never to skim.
- Means to read carefully
- Formal register
- Often misused as 'skim'
- Noun form is perusal
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a scholar in a library.
When Native Speakers Use It
In business emails.
Cultural Insight
It sounds intelligent.
Grammar Shortcut
No 'at' or 'for' after it.
예시
He spent hours perusing the documents.
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