While surfing the Internet, we come across difficult words that can confuse us. Typically, you Google the word and search for its meaning. This is one of the ways to find the meaning of a word. However, there are better and more productive ways. What if you double-click on the word and its meaning appears? This is possible with dictionary extensions for the Chrome browser.
With Chrome’s dictionary extensions, you don’t have to leave the current web page. Selecting or right-clicking the text will display its meaning. Isn’t that great?
Let’s check out the best English dictionary extensions for Chrome.
Note: After installing the extensions, refresh the existing open tabs so they work properly. Dictionary extensions will not work on Chrome extension pages.
1. Google Dictionary
Google offers one of the oldest and most reliable dictionary extensions called Google Dictionary and it supports many languages. You can consider this post as an alternative to Google Dictionary extensions. By default, the meaning of a word appears in a pop-up window when you double-click on it.
You can change this behavior and assign a trigger key that must be pressed in conjunction with a double click of the mouse. You can also hide the words you are looking for by enabling them in the extension settings.
Fly: To open the extension settings, right-click the extension icon in the toolbar and go to Options.
If you want a detailed meaning of the word with synonyms, select the word and click on the extension icon. Alternatively, manually type the word in the box that pops up when you click on the extension icon.
2. Instant Dictionary from GoodWordGuide
The Instant Dictionary (Dictionary Bubble) extension works a bit like Google Dictionary. Double click on the word and its definition will appear with synonyms. You can also listen to the pronunciation of the word from the pop-up window.
For the expanded meaning, select the word, press the D key on your keyboard and click the extension icon.
Apart from changing the trigger keys of the popup, you can change the font size and enable word history in the extension settings.
3. Dictionary Search
If the idea of a window with just a double-click on a word bothers you, Dictionary Search offers an alternative way. You have to press a button on your keyboard – Alt on Windows, Command on Mac and Ctrl on Linux, plus double-click the word or select it to display its definition in a popup.
Keyboard button can be changed in extension settings. Interestingly, you can also disable this behavior and go with a double click by selecting None in the Mouse search modifier. You can also enable or disable the content that should appear in the popup. For example, antonyms and related words are disabled by default. You can enable them. Similarly, you can adjust the size of the popup.
4. My Dictionary
My dictionary extension works a little differently. This extension also does not make you leave your web page, but it opens a new window in the same tab. While somewhat time consuming, the advantage is that you can easily switch between multiple dictionaries.
Double-click on a word to find its definition. Then press Select Dictionary and choose your preferred dictionary from the menu. You can change this dictionary on the next screen. I wish we could set a dictionary as default so we wouldn’t have to select it every time.
You can even add a custom dictionary and reorder existing dictionaries in the extension settings.
5. Dictionary of Power
When you install the Power Thesaurus extension, don’t be afraid that the definitions are not available because definitions are disabled by default in the extension settings. To enable them go to the extension options and under Show check the box next to Definition.
Now when you double click on a word, the Power Thesaurus icon will appear. Clicking on it will show you synonyms, antonyms and the definition in a popup. Click View All to see all available options.
If you want to view the popup directly without pressing the icon, go to the extension options and select Preview under Popup. You can also change the number of synonyms and antonyms that should appear, use dark mode, and change the right-click menu settings in the extension settings.
6. Synonyms.com
As the name suggests, the extension is actually a synonym word generation tool. But it does a great job of providing definitions, sentence examples, and synonyms. To use the extension, select the word and click the extension icon in the toolbar. You can also manually enter the word in the provided search box.
7. TheFreeDictionary.com
With this extension, when you double click on a word, it will open the freedictionary.com website in a new tab and show the detailed meaning of the selected word.
If opening a website without double-clicking bothers you, the behavior can be limited to right-clicking only in the extension settings. You can also check out the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary extension, which opens a new window to show definitions.
There’s more
Apart from the extensions mentioned above, try grammar checker extensions like Grammarly, Microsoft Editor, and Ginger. They also offer the ability to view definitions along with other useful features. If none of the extensions meet your requirements, right-click on the selected word and select Search Google Chrome in Chrome.
Next: Chrome can easily manage multiple accounts. However, what is your default account and what does it mean to have a default account? Find the next answer.
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