Scan can mean to look over something quickly, to search a wide area, or to make an image with a scannerA device that copies a paper document or creates a digital picture. or medical device. It also has less common meanings in poetryLiterary writing that uses rhythm, sound, and imagery, often in short lines. and computingUsing computers and related technology to process information..
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /skæn/
Easy pronunciation: SKAN (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; stress is on the only syllable.
Verb sense: to look over something quickly or skim through it.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Scan Meaning
to glance through quickly
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to look over something quickly, especially to find something or get the gist
Example: She scanned the newspaper headlines while waiting for the taxi.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- glance over — A close, natural substitute for the quick-looking sense.
- skim — Works well when reading quickly for the main points.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Scan
Meaning 2
to read data from a device or file
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to obtain data from a magnetic tape or other digital source
Example: The computer scans the data automatically.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- read — Works in this technical sense, though it is broader than scan.
Meaning 3
an image made by a scanner or medical machine
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an image produced by scanning
Example: The doctor reviewed the brain scan.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- cat scan — A specific kind of medical scan, not a general substitute for all uses of scan.
Meaning 4
to fit the rhythm of a poem
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to conform to a metrical pattern
Example: The line scans well in verse.
Meaning 5
to study something carefully
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to examine minutely or intensely
Example: The surgeon scanned the X-ray.
Meaning 6
to search a large area
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to make a wide, sweeping search of
Example: The beams scanned the night sky.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- rake — Can work in the sense of sweeping across an area, but it is less common and more specific.
Meaning 7
to move a beam or signal across a surface
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to move a light beam over; in electronics, to reproduce an image
Example: The display scans line by line.
Meaning 8
to read lines of poetry with attention to rhythm
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to read metrically
Example: She scanned the verse aloud.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Scan Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- glance over
- skim
to obtain data from a magnetic tape or other digital source
- read
an image produced by scanning
- cat scan
to make a wide, sweeping search of
- rake
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using scan to mean any kind of careful reading; it usually suggests a quick look or a broad search.
- Using cat scan as a synonym for every noun sense of scan; it is only one specific medical type of scan.
- Confusing scan with skim: skim is mainly for reading quickly, while scan can also mean searching a space visually.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does scan mean in everyday English?
Most often, scan means to look over something quickly, especially to find information or get a general idea.
What are the best synonyms for scan?
For the common everyday verb sense, the best synonyms are glance over and skim.
Can scan mean a medical image?
Yes. As a noun, scan can mean an image made by a scanner or medical machine, such as a brain scan.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.