speed-read: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to semi-formal, often used in educational, professional, or self-improvement contexts.
Quick answer
What does “speed-read” mean?
To read text at an exceptionally fast pace, often using specific techniques to absorb main ideas quickly without reading every word.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To read text at an exceptionally fast pace, often using specific techniques to absorb main ideas quickly without reading every word.
Can metaphorically describe quickly processing or absorbing any type of information, not just written text.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in American English, particularly in corporate and academic efficiency contexts. In British English, sometimes replaced with 'skim-read' though they are not perfect synonyms.
Connotations
In the US, often associated with productivity and time-management courses. In the UK, can sometimes carry a slight connotation of superficial understanding.
Frequency
Low-frequency in everyday conversation, but established in specific domains like education and business training.
Grammar
How to Use “speed-read” in a Sentence
[Subject] speed-reads [Object][Subject] speed-read [Object] (past)[Subject] is speed-reading [Object] (continuous)[Subject] can speed-readVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “speed-read” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She took a course to learn how to speed-read academic journals efficiently.
- I can speed-read a novel in about an hour if I need to.
- He was speed-reading the legal brief before the court session.
American English
- Managers are encouraged to speed-read through the quarterly filings to spot trends.
- I speed-read the contract and missed a crucial clause.
- She speed-read the entire textbook the night before the exam.
adverb
British English
- He read the report speed-readingly, which led to several misunderstandings. (Rare and awkward)
adjective
British English
- She attended a speed-read workshop last summer.
- The speed-read technique he used was surprisingly effective.
American English
- He's enrolled in a speed-reading course to improve his efficiency.
- They offer speed-read training for all new analysts.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Essential for executives who need to process vast amounts of market reports and emails daily.
Academic
Useful for literature reviews, but cautioned against for complex theoretical texts.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used humorously: 'I had to speed-read the instructions before the meeting.'
Technical
A defined skill in cognitive psychology and pedagogy, involving techniques like minimizing subvocalization and expanding peripheral vision.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “speed-read”
- Using it for any fast reading, even untrained. Incorrect: 'He just speed-read the menu.' Correct: 'He skimmed the menu.'
- Spelling: 'speedread' (should be hyphenated or, less commonly, written as two words: 'speed read').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not necessarily. It prioritizes identifying key ideas, main arguments, and structure over deep, detailed comprehension of every point.
They are related but distinct. Skimming is a general technique to get the main idea by reading headings, introductions, and conclusions. Speed-reading is a broader set of trained techniques aimed at reading almost all text at a very high speed.
It's possible but often discouraged for literary fiction where language, style, and nuance are key to the experience. It is more commonly applied to informational texts.
A common technique is using a pointer (like a finger or pen) to guide the eyes faster down the page and to reduce fixations and regressions.
To read text at an exceptionally fast pace, often using specific techniques to absorb main ideas quickly without reading every word.
Speed-read is usually formal to semi-formal, often used in educational, professional, or self-improvement contexts. in register.
Speed-read: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspiːd riːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspiːd ˌriːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Read at the speed of light”
- “Devour a book”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SPEED + READ. Imagine a speedometer on a book, with the needle pointing to 'fast'.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROCESSING INFORMATION IS CONSUMING FOOD QUICKLY (devour a book); TIME IS A RESOURCE (speed-reading saves time).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication of 'speed-read' as opposed to just 'read quickly'?