bookish

adjective

book·​ish ˈbu̇-kish How to pronounce bookish (audio)
Synonyms of bookish
1
a
: of or relating to books
b
: fond of books and reading
2
a
: inclined to rely on book knowledge
b
of words : literary and formal as opposed to colloquial and informal
c
: given to literary or scholarly pursuits
also : affectedly learned
bookishly adverb
bookishness noun

Synonyms of bookish

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Examples of bookish in a Sentence

Their teacher was a bookish fellow. “fealty” is a bookish synonym for “loyalty”
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Like James himself, the men are clever and bookish, writing letters or diaries, reading voraciously, and imagining themselves into tales of romance and Biblical comeuppance. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Read our full bookish tribute to Parton here, or learn how to sign up for the Imagination Library here. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Over the years, The Book Rack has offered thousands of books across a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres, along with candles, notebooks, bookish gifts and more than 100 puzzles. — Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026 Bella Padilla Everitt is a bookish 13-year-old who likes to write poetry. — John Wisely, Freep.com, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bookish

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of bookish was in 1542

Browse Nearby Words

book inventory
bookish
bookit
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bookish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bookish. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bookish

adjective
book·​ish ˈbu̇k-ish How to pronounce bookish (audio)
1
: fond of reading
2
: tending to rely on knowledge from books rather than practical experience
3
: resembling the language of books : formal
bookishly adverb
bookishness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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