Phrasal Verbs Related to Reading

Phrasal Verbs Related to Reading (with Meanings & Examples)

Phrasal Verbs Related to Reading

Reading is one of the quiet heroes of language learning. It builds vocabulary, strengthens grammar awareness, and gently trains your brain to think in English. But when we talk about reading in English, we don’t just “read” — we leaf through, dip into, skim over, or plough through texts depending on our purpose. Phrasal Verbs Related to Reading

In this lesson, we will explore phrasal verbs related to reading, from casual browsing to serious academic study. These expressions are common in everyday English and frequently appear in Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced exams — especially in writing, speaking, and Use of English tasks.

Let’s get stuck into it.

Read through

Meaning: to read something from beginning to end, often carefully. Common use: checking documents, emails, essays, instructions. It is often used when talking about editing or proofreading in writing tasks.

• Please read through the instructions before you start the exam.
• I read through my essay twice to check for mistakes.
• The teacher read through our reports over the weekend.

Look through

Meaning: to read something quickly or briefly to find information. It is used in notes, emails, articles, and folders. It is similar to read through, although look through is faster and less detailed.

• I looked through my notes before the test
• She looked through the article but didn’t read it in detail.
• Can you look through this email and tell me what you think?

Leaf through

Meaning: to turn the pages of a book or magazine casually, without reading everything. It is commonly used in magazines, catalogues, novels, and textbooks.  This phrasal verb feels delightfully old-fashioned — and examiners love it.

• He was leafing through a magazine while waiting for the train.
• I leafed through the book to see if it was interesting.
• Sara spent the afternoon leafing through old photo albums.

Flick through

Meaning: to look quickly at pages, often skipping a lot of content. It is used in magazines, newspapers, and social media feeds, and is slightly more informal than ‘leaf through’.

• I flicked through the newspaper during breakfast.
• She flicked through the textbook, searching for a diagram.
• He flicked through the report but missed an important detail.

Skim over

Meaning: to read something very quickly to get the general idea. It refers to a classic reading strategy for exams.

• I skimmed over the article to understand the main points.
• You don’t need to read every word — just skim over it.
• In the exam, I skimmed over the text before answering the questions.

Dip into

Meaning: to read small parts of something, not in order. It is perfect for describing casual or flexible reading habits.

• I like to dip into this book before going to sleep.
• She dips into different novels depending on her mood.
• You can dip into the guide whenever you need help.

Get through

Meaning: to finish reading something, often with difficulty or effort. It is commonly used in long books, academic texts, difficult articles and is  great for talking about challenging material.

• It took me weeks to get through that novel.
• I finally got through all the reading for my course.
• He struggled to get through the dense academic article.

Plough through

Meaning: to read something long or difficult with determination. It is slightly informal, very expressive — and wonderfully British.

• I ploughed through hundreds of pages before the exam.
• She ploughed through the novel despite its complex language.
• We had to plough through a pile of research papers.

Go over

Meaning: to read something again, often to revise or check details.

• Let’s go over the text one more time.
• I went over my answers before handing in the paper.
• The teacher went over our homework in class.

Brush up on

Meaning: to improve or refresh your knowledge by reading or studying. It is  ideal for talking about exam preparation and self-study.

• I need to brush up on my academic reading skills.
• She’s brushing up on phrasal verbs before the exam.
• He read a few articles to brush up on the topic.

Phrasal verbs related to reading help you describe how you read — not just what you read. Whether you’re skimming over an article, ploughing through a textbook, or dipping into a novel, these expressions add naturalness, precision, and confidence to your English.

And remember: reading about phrasal verbs is one thing — but getting through them and actually using them? That’s where the real progress happens.

Now go on… leaf through your favourite book and enjoy the journey. 😉

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