underread

U1N1D2E1R1R1E1A1D2
/ˌʌndəˈɹiːd//ˌʌndəˈɹɛd/

verb

To read below what is normal, usual, or expected, or with less competency, alertness, ability, etc.

Opposite
Scrabble 11

Meanings

underread1

verbunderread (third-person singular simple present underreads, present participle underreading, simple past and past participle underread)

present singular third person underreads · participle present underreading

  1. transitiveTo read below what is normal, usual, or expected, or with less competency, alertness, ability, etc.

    >>> You're underthinking it. […] You underREAD my original post! :> In particular: […]

    2010 December 30, D Yuniskis, “Fan direction”, in comp.arch.embedded (Usenet), archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026
    1 more example

    You underread the law--I merely commented that, from the vague information you gave, it's possible you weren't so clean yourself. Even if your actions weren't illegal, they were still, in my opinion, objectionable.

    2004 March 9, Michael Lockhart, “Martha Stewart has been railroaded !”, in alt.gossip.celebrities (Usenet), archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026
  2. transitiveTo read to a lesser degree.

underread2

verb
  1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of underread
adjectiveunderread (comparative more underread, superlative most underread)

comparative more underread · superlative most underread

  1. uncommonRead to a lesser degree; insufficiently read.

    More obscure than posting flames on an underread internet newsgroup? I'd have thought he'd bottomed out here. ;-)

    1999 July 16, series5@my-deja.com, “CRUSADE: 6 DOWN, SEVEN TO GO (The Actor's contact run out today!!!!)”, in rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5 (Usenet), archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026
    5 more examples

    -Wake-up call to the offense? Hello....offense! Anybody home? I have a feeling Coach Richt has heard the footsteps, and will turn to some of the underread pages in the playbook. (I hope!)

    1996 October 3, Allen Risley, “Clemson @ FSU Predixn Derby”, in alt.sports.football.college.fsu-seminoles (Usenet), archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026

    And if you are a good novelist but a shitty short fiction writer, spending five years sending out short stories to a shrinking collection of underread and dying markets won't be getting you any credentials anyway.

    1999 March 26, Random, “Well, this party sure died!”, in rec.arts.horror.written (Usenet), archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026

    Some stuff that hasn't been mentioned yet that I'd love to see: […] The Atom (particularly the underread and underrated "Search for Jean Loring" storyline, though that'd have to wait for volume two)

    2006 June 20, YKW '06, “Showcase Presents... Wish List”, in rec.arts.comics.dc.universe (Usenet), archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026

    Mr. Cobb do note that "Pastor" (caugh hack) winter does this little trick with his followups so when you post it goes to an underread group. Winter cant hack an honest debate.

    2006 August 9, unemployed_deity@yahoo.com, “Re: See for yourself what a lying devil Pastor Steve Winter Is!”, in alt.christnet.public (Usenet), archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026

    The Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award was initiated in 2001, and to date has handed out nineteen awards to honor underread science fiction and fantasy authors. Five of those awards (26%) have gone to women.

    2018 August 7, “Mildred Clingerman and Why We Should Know Her”, in Mildred Clingerman, A Cupful of Space, via WordPress, archived from the original on 17 Jul 2019
  2. rareHaving read below what is normal, usual, or expected, or with less competency, alertness, ability, etc.

    You really are an underread cultural chump, aren't you, Jafo ?

    2006 April 12, hc23hc, “protesters in France win! Lazy fat ass Americans lose ..”, in alt.california (Usenet), archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026
    2 more examples

    He can't be too old. His comments indicate a person who is underread just enough to be dangerous.

    2001 January 27, dmterp@enter.net, “Lewis' Occupation”, in roanoke.news-talk (Usenet), archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026

    I've seen this article before. It didn't impress me then and it doesn't impress me now. It's based on the assumption of a literally true Genesis, and attempts to wind its conclusions around to fit the idea of a literally true Genesis. And to an underread layman, it MIGHT work.

    2001 February 8, Iceberg, “The Christ of History and the Christ of Experience”, in alt.religion.christian (Usenet), archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite

Origin

underread · verb

From under- + read (verb).

Full word history & related roots →

underread · verb, adjective

From under- + read, simple past and past participle of read.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

underread. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underread

MLA

“underread.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underread. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “underread,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/underread.

Source: underread on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.