Phrase guide

sight read

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.

  • present: /ˈsaɪt ˌɹiːd/
  • past: /ˈsaɪt ˌɹɛd/

1

verb

Meaning 1

To perform a musical piece while reading it for the first time, without rehearsal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

Examples

  • I can sight read really simple music, but hard pieces need a lot of practice so I don't have to stop and figure out what I'm doing.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To complete a video game level (particularly an autoscroller) while playing it for the first time, without practice.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Topics: video-games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From sight + read, in reference to not being able to rely on muscle memory developed through practice.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lukea nuoteista — to perform a musical piece while reading it for the first time
  • Finnish: soittaa prima vista — to perform a musical piece while reading it for the first time
  • French: jouer à vue — to perform a musical piece while reading it for the first time
  • French: déchiffrer — to perform a musical piece while reading it for the first time
  • German: vom Blatt spielen — to perform a musical piece while reading it for the first time
  • Hungarian: blattol — to perform a musical piece while reading it for the first time
  • Hungarian: lapról olvas — to perform a musical piece while reading it for the first time
  • Italian: suonare a prima vista — to perform a musical piece while reading it for the first time
  • Polish: grać a vista — to perform a musical piece while reading it for the first time
  • Swedish: a vista-läsa — to perform a musical piece while reading it for the first time