bookworm

noun

book·​worm ˈbu̇k-ˌwərm How to pronounce bookworm (audio)
: a person unusually devoted to reading and study

Examples of bookworm in a Sentence

She was always a bookworm when she was a kid. a bookworm who prefers reading to just about any other activity
Recent Examples on the Web While the rest of the specs are average or below, the $229 price might be enough to tempt bookworms who like to read on their phones. Julian Chokkattu Simon Hill, WIRED, 26 Feb. 2024 Give a bookworm in your life the perfect gift complete with a device that’ll be here in time for Christmas. EW.com, 20 Dec. 2023 Applicants must be bookworms, the press release says, and must observe library-style regulations. Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 For bookworms, there's no better place to visit than Square Books and Square Books Jr., the latter of which has storytimes and lots of children's books to peruse. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 Audible Premium Plus is a no-brainer subscription for bookworms. Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2024 There’s also a mini library for bookworms and an inventive non-alcoholic cocktail list for those here on a health quest (try the Pink Panther Cooler, made with lychee, agave, cranberry and mango). Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Sydney's character, Julia, is more of a bookworm, more scholastic and nerdy. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 15 Feb. 2024 Gerber, a noted bookworm, and Crawford attended the 74th National Book Awards looking as chic and sophisticated as ever, with both women wearing their brunette hair long and loose around their shoulders; Gerber paired hers with a strapless dress and Crawford opted for a white-on-white suit moment. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 16 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bookworm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bookworm was in 1580

Dictionary Entries Near bookworm

Cite this Entry

“Bookworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bookworm. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bookworm

noun
book·​worm -ˌwərm How to pronounce bookworm (audio)
1
: any of various insect larvae that feed on the binding and paste of books
2
: a person devoted to reading or study

More from Merriam-Webster on bookworm

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