A reader is someone who reads, but the word carries more weight than that simple definition suggests. When we call someone a reader, we usually mean they love books and read regularly by choice, not just when assigned. A reader is the kind of person who keeps a book in their backpack, stays up late to finish an exciting chapter, and gets lost in stories or ideas on the page.

The word can also describe a textbook or collection of writings used in school. Your English class might use a literature reader filled with short stories and poems. In British schools, teachers use reading schemes with leveled books called readers to help students build their skills.

In some universities and churches, reader is also a title. A reader at a university is a senior teacher, similar to a professor. In some religious services, the reader is the person chosen to read scripture passages aloud to the congregation.

But when someone says “I'm a reader” or “She's a real reader,” they're usually describing a passion. Readers decode words on a page and use them to travel to other worlds, learn how things work, and explore ideas that expand their thinking. Being a reader means you've discovered that books are portals to just about anywhere you want to go.