What does reread mean?
Reread means to read a text or examine information a second time. The action is more than simple repetition: people often reread a difficult passage, a letter, or a document because they want to understand it more clearly, notice something overlooked, or reconsider it after circumstances have changed. The word is common in formal and informal contexts and can describe both practical acts, such as rereading a contract, and reflective acts, such as rereading an old message years later. It is usually written as “reread,” though “re-read” is also widely accepted and can make the repeated action especially clear. Compared with the more general word “read,” “reread” explicitly emphasizes a second reading and often suggests greater attention, scrutiny, or a changed understanding.
To read a text or document again.
"I reread the instructions to make sure I had followed them correctly."
Usually transitive, though the object can be omitted when it is clear from context: “I reread it; the wording had changed.”
To reconsider or revisit written material in light of new information or a changed perspective.
"After the trial, the journalist reread the early reports and noticed several inconsistencies."
This extended sense emphasizes reinterpretation rather than merely repeating the act of reading.
Rereading is not repetition for its own sake: it is often the moment when a familiar text reveals a detail your first reading missed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of reread
“Reread” was formed in English by combining the prefix “re-,” meaning again, with the verb “read.” The prefix has long been used in English to form verbs indicating repetition, such as “revisit” and “rewrite.” “Read” itself comes from Old English “rædan,” related to words such as “reader” and “ready,” although the modern pronunciation of “read” changes in the past tense, and the verb “reread” is conventionally pronounced with the past-tense sound.
Related word forms
How reread is actually used
“Reread” is standard in both British and American English. The prefix may be written as one word, “reread,” or as “re-read,” with the hyphenated form especially common when the word is used attributively or for emphasis. It is typically transitive, although it can also be used intransitively when the object is understood.
Easily confused with reread
“Read” means to take in written or printed material, while “reread” means to do so again, often after a pause or with a different intention.