Definition of read out

The phrase "read out" is a verb phrase that is a combination of two words - "read" and "out." The word "out" in this context is used as a phrasal particle, which modifies the meaning of the base word "read." The origin of this compound phrase can be traced back to Middle English, where it was spelled as "redenwedge" and meant "to declare or proclaim something loudly or clearly." This usage evolved over time, and by the 16th century, the phrase was written as "red out" in Early Modern English. In its modern usage, "read out" denotes the act of verbally communicating information that has been written down or displayed, such as presenting a list of items, reading instructions or procedures, or announcing the results of a test or quiz. The meaning of "out" in this phrase is a preposition that specifies the direction of the reading - "outward" or "from within" - as opposed to "in," which would imply reading from within a document or display. In summary, the phrase "read out" is a concise and widely used expression that combines the meanings of "read" and "out" to denote the explicit communication of previously written or displayed information.