Misread: meaning, definitions and examples

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misread

[mɪsˈriːd ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

reading comprehension

To read or interpret incorrectly or inaccurately.

Synonyms

confuse, misinterpret, misunderstand.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
misread	This is used when someone reads a text or notice incorrectly and thus gets the wrong idea. I’m sorry, I must have misread the email, I thought the meeting was at 3 PM. He misread the sign and took the wrong exit on the highway.
misinterpret	This is used when someone understands or explains something incorrectly, usually referring to an opinion or perspective. He misinterpreted her smile as a sign of romantic interest. It's easy to misinterpret statistics without proper context.
misunderstand	This is used when someone fails to understand something or someone correctly, generally causing a mistake or a communication problem. I misunderstood the instructions and made the recipe wrong. They often misunderstand each other because of the language barrier.
confuse	This is used when someone is uncertain or unable to understand something clearly, often mixing things up. The complex explanation might confuse new students. She tends to confuse the twins because they look so much alike.

Examples of usage

He misread the instructions and ended up assembling the furniture incorrectly.
She misread the situation and thought he was angry when he was actually just tired.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

reading comprehension

An instance of reading or interpreting something incorrectly.

Synonyms

error, misinterpretation, misunderstanding.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
misread	Suitable for describing a situation where someone fails to interpret something correctly, especially written words or signals. It implies a mistake in reading or understanding text. He misread the instructions and assembled the furniture incorrectly. She misread the speed limit sign and got a ticket.
misinterpretation	Appropriate when someone incorrectly understands or explains the meaning of information, actions, or events. Focuses on the wrong interpretation of something. Her misinterpretation of his words led to a big argument. The misinterpretation of the data skewed the research results.
misunderstanding	Best used when there is a failure to understand something correctly, often leading to confusion or conflict between people. It is commonly used in interpersonal communication. There was a misunderstanding about what time the meeting was. The disagreement was just a misunderstanding, and they made up quickly.
error	Used to describe something more general that goes wrong, often used in technical fields, mathematics, computing, or day-to-day mistakes. It covers a broad range of mistakes, not just related to reading or interpreting. There was an error in the calculation that affected the results. I made an error on the form and had to fill it out again.

Examples of usage

It was a misread of the data that led to the wrong conclusions.
The misread of the map caused us to get lost.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The prefix 'mis-' comes from old English meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly', showing that it's about making a mistake.
The word 'read' originates from the Old English 'rædan', which means to advise or interpret, emphasizing the need for understanding.
The combination of 'mis-' and 'read' first appeared in the late 19th century, reflecting the increasing complexity of written communication.

Psychology

Misinterpretation can often happen due to cognitive biases, where one's preconceptions affect how information is perceived.
In studies, people are more likely to misread emotional messages when distracted or in a hurry, hinting at the importance of focus.
Reading comprehension issues can stem from factors like stress or fatigue, indicating that our mental state affects our understanding of text.

Literature

Famous novels often include misreads as plot devices, where a character misunderstands a situation, leading to unexpected outcomes.
Literary criticism sometimes hinges on misreadings of texts, as different interpretations can uncover deeper meanings.
Authors may purposefully create ambiguity in stories to play with readers' understanding, inviting potential misreads.

Technology

Automated text systems can misread human input, leading to errors in communication and showing the limits of artificial understanding.
Text prediction algorithms often misread context, sometimes suggesting words that do not fit the intended meaning, illustrating technological challenges.
Researchers are developing AI that learns from human misreads to improve text understanding, aiming for more reliable communication tools.

Education

Misreading can affect learning, as students who frequently misinterpret texts may struggle with comprehension and retention.
Educators encourage active reading strategies to prevent misreads, such as summarizing paragraphs or discussing themes with peers.
Helping students identify their misreads can boost their confidence and skills, turning mistakes into powerful learning moments.

Translations

Translations of the word "misread" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ler mal

🇮🇳 गलत पढ़ना

🇩🇪 falsch lesen

🇮🇩 salah baca

🇺🇦 неправильно прочитати

🇵🇱 źle przeczytać

🇯🇵 読み間違える

🇫🇷 mal lire

🇪🇸 leer mal

🇹🇷 yanlış okumak

🇰🇷 잘못 읽다

🇸🇦 قرأ خطأ

🇨🇿 špatně přečíst

🇸🇰 zle prečítať

🇨🇳 读错

🇸🇮 napačno prebrati

🇮🇸 lesa rangt

🇰🇿 дұрыс оқымау

🇬🇪 არასწორად წაკითხვა

🇦🇿 səhv oxumaq

🇲🇽 leer mal

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,589, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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24586 changer
24587 keying
24588 distributable
24589 misread
24590 disfigurement
24591 unbuttoned
24592 irrelevance
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