To peruse something usually means to read it carefully and thoroughly. When your teacher asks you to peruse the instructions before starting a science experiment, she wants you to read every detail closely, examining each part with attention.

Many people also use peruse to mean to browse casually or glance at something, and this meaning is common in everyday English. The word can suggest careful, attentive reading, especially in formal or professional settings.

When a lawyer peruses a contract, she's examining every clause with concentration. When you peruse a recipe before baking, you're making sure you understand each step and have all the ingredients.

If someone hands you a long list of rules for a game and says “please peruse these,” they're asking you to read and understand what's written, giving it real attention. You can think of peruse as reading with purpose, whether that means studying something closely or looking through it in a more relaxed way, depending on how the word is being used.