A semiconductor memory device includes: a plurality of cell array blocks in each of which a plurality of memory cells are arranged; address decode circuits for selecting memory cells in the cell array blocks; sense amplifier circuits for reading cell data of the cell array blocks; and a busy signal generation circuit for generating a busy signal to the chip external, wherein in a first read cycle selecting a first area in a first cell array block, cell data read operations for the first area of the first cell array block and a second area of a second cell array block are simultaneously executed, while the busy signal generation circuit generates a true busy signal, and then a read data output operation is executed for outputting the read out data of the first area held in the sense amplifier circuits to the chip external, and in a second read cycle selecting the second area in the second cell array block, after the busy signal generation circuit has output a dummy busy signal shorter in time length than the true busy signal without executing cell data read operation, a read data output operation is executed for outputting the read out data of the second area held in the sense amplifier circuits to the chip external.