Free Online English Dictionary

Pick the right meaning

One word can have several meanings or grammatical roles. Read every definition and compare its example with the sentence you are writing. Synonyms are not always interchangeable.

Where the definitions come from

Entries come from the Free Dictionary API, which is based on Wiktionary, a collaborative dictionary. Coverage of rare words, slang and specialized terms varies. Check a published dictionary or subject-specific glossary when precision matters.

What each entry includes

A lookup returns the word or phrase, a phonetic pronunciation when one is available, and entries grouped by part of speech. Each entry has a definition and, where the source includes them, an example sentence, synonyms and antonyms.

Many words have several senses. “Leverage,” for instance, means one thing in a physics class and another in a sales meeting, so read every definition and pick the one that matches your sentence.

Using synonyms carefully

Synonyms rarely mean exactly the same thing. “Big,” “large,” “huge” and “significant” overlap, but each carries a different tone and fits different sentences. Read the example sentence before swapping a word, and say the new sentence aloud to hear whether it still sounds natural.

For learners of English, phrasal verbs and idioms are often harder than single words. Enter the whole expression — “run into,” “break the ice,” “on the fence” — and, if it is not found, look up its main word.

When to check an authoritative source

For legal, medical, technical or regional terms, confirm the definition in a published dictionary or a subject-specific glossary. Entries come from the Free Dictionary API, based on the collaborative Wiktionary project, so they are a helpful explanation rather than a citation-ready reference.