How to use Dictionary — Word Definitions, Meanings & Pronunciation
This free online dictionary returns the full meaning of any English word — its definitions grouped by part of speech, phonetic spelling, audio pronunciation, synonyms, antonyms and real example sentences. Students, writers, ESL learners and crossword solvers use it to check spelling, settle word debates and discover precise meanings without wading through ads or sign-up walls. Results are fetched live from the open-source Free Dictionary API.
- Type the English word you want to look up into the search box.
- Press Define (or hit Enter) to fetch the entry from the Free Dictionary API.
- Read the definitions, which are grouped by part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, etc.).
- Click Listen to hear the audio pronunciation when one is available.
- Scan the synonyms and antonyms to find alternative words or opposites.
Your query is sent to Free Dictionary APIto fetch results. We don't store it.
How to read a dictionary entry
A complete dictionary entry has several parts. The headword is the word itself, followed by its phonetic transcription in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) showing how it is pronounced. Definitions are grouped by part of speech — the same spelling can be a noun, verb and adjective with different meanings. Within each part of speech, definitions are usually ordered from most common to most specialized, and many include an example sentence that shows the word used naturally in context. Synonyms (words with similar meaning) and antonyms (opposites) round out the entry and are useful for expanding vocabulary.
| Part of speech | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Names a person, place, thing or idea | serendipity, river, courage |
| Verb | Expresses an action or state | run, believe, become |
| Adjective | Describes a noun | bright, ancient, fragile |
| Adverb | Modifies a verb, adjective or adverb | quickly, very, well |
| Preposition | Shows relationship in time or space | under, between, since |
Why definitions sometimes differ between dictionaries
No two dictionaries are identical because language is constantly evolving and lexicographers make editorial choices. Descriptive dictionaries record how words are actually used, including new slang and shifted meanings, while more conservative references wait for usage to settle before adding a sense. Regional differences also matter: British and American English diverge in spelling (colour vs color), pronunciation, and even meaning (the word "pants" being a clear example). This tool draws on the open Free Dictionary API, which aggregates definitions for modern English; for legal, medical or scholarly work you should still cross-check a specialist or subscription dictionary.
Worked examples
Defining "serendipity"
Inputs: serendipity
Result: noun — the occurrence of happy or beneficial events by chance
Looking up "ephemeral"
Inputs: ephemeral
Result: adjective — lasting for a very short time
Checking "ubiquitous"
Inputs: ubiquitous
Result: adjective — present, appearing, or found everywhere
Glossary
- Headword
- The word being defined, shown at the top of a dictionary entry.
- Phonetic / IPA
- A transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet that shows exactly how a word is pronounced.
- Part of speech
- The grammatical category of a word, such as noun, verb, adjective or adverb.
- Synonym
- A word with the same or nearly the same meaning as another word.
- Antonym
- A word with the opposite meaning to another word.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use Dictionary — Word Definitions, Meanings & Pronunciation?
- Complete entries: definitions, part of speech, phonetics, audio, synonyms and antonyms on one screen
- Audio pronunciation (where available) plays the word aloud so you learn the correct sound, not just the spelling
- Synonyms and antonyms help you vary word choice and build vocabulary while writing
- No ads, no sign-up, and your most recent lookups are cached so repeat searches are instant
Common use cases
- Confirm the exact meaning of an unfamiliar word while reading an article or book
- Find a stronger synonym while drafting an essay, email or blog post
- Check pronunciation of a tricky word before a presentation or class
- Settle a Scrabble or crossword dispute over whether a word is valid and what it means
- Help an ESL learner understand definitions with example sentences in context
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