misread

American  

[mis-reed] / mɪsˈrid /

verb (used with or without object)

misread, misreading

1. to read wrongly.

2. to misunderstand or misinterpret.

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misread British  

/ ˌmɪsˈriːd /

verb

1. to read incorrectly

2. to misinterpret

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Other Word Forms

• misreader noun

Etymology

Origin of misread

First recorded in 1800–10; mis- ¹ + read ¹

Explanation

To misread something is to read it but understand it in the wrong way. If you misread an article about local politics, you might end up supporting a candidate whose views you don't actually agree with. When you interpret a book, online article, or magazine story incorrectly, you misread it. You can also misread people, when you don't understand how they feel or what they intend: "She tended to misread cranky customers at the coffee shop, thinking they were joking when they were actually angry about something." The prefix mis- means "bad" or "wrong," and read can mean both "comprehend printed matter" or "make out a person's character."

Example Sentences

I’ve misread this category so thoroughly this year they could open the envelope, say the name of an actor not even nominated and I would think, “Yes! Of course!”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

DeRosa, an MLB Network analyst, said afterward that he had “misspoke” during his interview and “completely misread the calculations.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

He initially tried to explain the incorrect date by claiming someone had misread his handwriting.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

If that condition is misread, markets will break down.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

He felt that he was still groping in the dark; he had chosen his path but kept looking back, wondering whether he had misread the signs, whether he should not have taken the other way.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

Related Words

• confuse
• miscalculate
• misconstrue
• misinterpret
• misjudge