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
Examples of bookish in a Sentence
Their teacher was a bookish fellow.
“fealty” is a bookish synonym for “loyalty”
Recent Examples on the Web
On platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X and Goodreads, bookish users often tout images of impressive titles and aesthetically pleasing reading setups or monthly reading lists with dozens of books already checked off.
—
Angela Yang, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
To anyone as bookish as Lang, orchids may have summoned a whiff of Proust and Wilde.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Your teen can turn to these bookish gifts year round to get lost in their favorite novel.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
The comedy-drama, written by Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, follows Lorelai and her bookish daughter Rory (Bledel) in the quirky, charming small town of Stars Hollow, Conn.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bookish
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Angela Yang, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
To anyone as bookish as Lang, orchids may have summoned a whiff of Proust and Wilde.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Your teen can turn to these bookish gifts year round to get lost in their favorite novel.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
The comedy-drama, written by Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, follows Lorelai and her bookish daughter Rory (Bledel) in the quirky, charming small town of Stars Hollow, Conn.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bookish
Cite this Entry
“Bookish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bookish. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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