Read web pages, PDFs, and papers
Place the pointer over a word or select text to see the meaning beside the material you are reading.
Dictionary App for Mac
Look up English and Chinese text in Mac apps. Save words to review on iPhone and iPad.
macOS 15.4+
See Dictionary in action
Mac + iPhone · English narration and subtitles · iOS Simulator footage
Playing this video connects to YouTube.
Watch on YouTubeLook up and work with text
Look up text as you read, then save useful words for review.
Look up text in the app you are using
Look up text across Mac apps
Use hover, selection, Services, shortcuts, double-copy, or OCR in web pages, PDFs, screenshots, subtitles, and other apps.
Use selection or OCR in the current app
Select text for lookup, translation, or rewriting. Use OCR for screenshots, subtitles, images, and on-screen text.
Add AI explanations and rewriting
Use your own OpenAI API key to learn English with AI or learn Chinese with AI from the text you select.
Turn searched words into stories and review
Turn searched words into stories to learn English in daily life, learn Chinese, learn Mandarin, or learn Mandarin Chinese.
Continue reading and writing
Dictionary opens lookup results beside your text so you can keep reading or writing in the same app.
From lookup to review
Start a lookup on Mac
Explain or rewrite with AI
Open query history
Review words and stories
Start a lookup on Mac: Look up English and Chinese text with hover selection Services shortcuts or OCR inside Mac apps.
Explain or rewrite with AI: Use your own OpenAI API key to explain meaning, context, usage, cultural background, etymology, similar expressions, or rewrite selected text.
Open query history: See searched words on Mac, iPhone, and iPad and continue each word in stories or review.
Review words and stories: Review searched words, query history, and daily stories on a forgetting-curve schedule.
Use Dictionary while reading and writing
Look up words from web pages, PDFs, papers, screenshots, subtitles, images, and writing, then save them for review.
Look up screenshots, subtitles, and image text
Select a screen area with OCR, extract the text, and open it for lookup or translation.
Save searched words for language learning
Keep today’s searched words in history, turn them into a story, and add them to scheduled review.
Look up on Mac, review on iPhone and iPad
Continue every lookup on iPhone and iPad
Query shows lookup history, Stories turns searched words into daily reading, Memory lists due reviews, and Sync shows the current synchronization status.
Turn real reading into vocabulary
Words from web pages, PDFs, papers, screenshots, subtitles, images, and writing enter query history and scheduled review.
Read today’s words in a story
Dictionary groups today’s searched words into readable context for the next review.
Continue review on iPhone and iPad
Query history, daily stories, due reviews, and sync status are available on iPhone and iPad.
Usage and API Key
Dictionary is free to use. AI features use your own OpenAI API key, and OpenAI bills your account for actual API usage.
Free to use Bring your own OpenAI API key
Dictionary is free to use. AI features use your own OpenAI API key, and OpenAI bills your account for actual API usage.
Set up API keyCurrent plan notes
- Dictionary is free to use.
- AI features use your own OpenAI API key.
- OpenAI bills your account for actual API usage.
FAQ
How do I translate selected text on Mac?
Select text and run lookup, translation, or rewriting inside the current app. Dictionary shows the result so you can continue reading or writing in the same place.
How do I translate text from a screenshot?
Start OCR capture and select the screen area. Dictionary extracts text from screenshots, subtitles, images, and on-screen text, then opens it for lookup or translation.
How do I use hover translation while reading?
Place the pointer over a word or sentence. Dictionary shows its meaning near the text so you can keep reading in the current app.
How does Dictionary stay ready in the background?
Dictionary keeps a lightweight lookup helper available in the background, ready for hover, selection, OCR, and shortcut actions.
What does AI add to Dictionary?
Hover, selection, OCR, and query history work directly. Add your own OpenAI API key to use AI explanations and rewriting.
Which macOS permissions enable each Dictionary action?
Accessibility enables Hover Lookup, Selection Popup, and Quick Translate. Screen Recording enables hover capture and OCR. Input Monitoring enables hover triggered with the Option key.
Can I look up words offline and continue review on iPhone or iPad?
Yes. Dictionary uses local English-Chinese resources for offline lookup on Mac, keeps useful words in scheduled review, and automatically syncs lookup history and review items to iPhone and iPad.
Resources
Open setup, permissions, popup lookup, OCR translation, release notes, and support.