Tip: Look up words in place using the dictionary
When you encounter an unfamiliar word while reading online, what do you do? Maybe it’s a term you’ve never seen before, or maybe you think you know what it means or how it’s pronounced, but you’re unsure.
While reading offline, you probably skip over such words after having scanned the surrounding words for context.
But online, on a Mac, you can look up the word in place:
- Select the word. (Just double-click it.)
- While holding down the Control key, click on the word.
- Choose Look Up in Dictionary from the pop-up menu.
- Read the dictionary entry in place.
If you’re haven’t yet used the Dictionary application on your Mac, you should take a look. It’s in your Applications folder.
You’ll find a complete dictionary and thesaurus, set in gorgeous type. In the United States, the current dictionary is the New Oxford American Dictionary, 2nd Edition.; the current thesaurus is the Oxford American Writers Thesaurus, 1st Edition. You can also choose from among several different pronunciations.
Dashboard includes a Dictionary widget, too.
Many profound thanks for this tip. As a writer and sometime scholar , this feature is, if not life changing, a vastly useful (and unusual) addition to my toolkit. I can only wonder why it is a hidden, unpublicized feaure.
Missed a step?
You need to highlight the word as a first step.
Cheers, S.
Great info. I completely forgot all about the dictionary app. Now that you’ve jogged my memory, I’ve rediscovered just how handy it really is. Thanks!
Steve, you’re right, thanks. I added the additional step.
I cannot get this tip –
look uo word in dictionary -
to work for me
(option not showing up in drop down box)
S. Murphy: that’s an omission on my part–this doesn’t work in some apps, like Firefox.
It doesn’t work for me in OmniWeb, but if you highlight the word by double clicking and then go into OmniWeb/Services menu, then you’ll see a look up in dictionary option. This should work in any app. that has a services menu.
Agreed. I had refrained from mentioning the Services menu to keep the post simple, and because the Services menu is just enough additional work to make it a frustrating exercise.
I also deliberately didn’t mention the Command-Control-D keyboard shortcut to hover over words and see their definitions. Had you heard of that shortcut?
There is an easier way: Place the mouse curser over the word you want to look up and then press “Crontrol + Command + D” this will look up the word directly in dictionary.
Where have you been all my life?