Phrase guide

read someone's lips

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To discern what someone is saying by watching the shape of the mouth rather than by hearing the sounds of the words.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Deaf people may be able to read people's lips, but it's not a foolproof means of communication.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To pay close attention (often imperative).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Read my lips. We are not going to the park today, and that is final.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lukea huulilta — discern what somebody is saying
  • Polish: czytać z ust — discern what somebody is saying
  • Polish: czytać z ruchu warg — discern what somebody is saying
  • Swedish: läsa på läppar — discern what somebody is saying
  • Swedish: läsa någons läppar — discern what somebody is saying