Dictionary.com: English Words

Review by eFreeware

If you look up words often, the Dictionary.com app is built for you. Students working through reading assignments, people writing in a second language, and anyone who wants a quick answer on their phone rather than a shelf of reference books are the readers I would expect to get the most from it. The developer describes it as the number one free dictionary app, and the install figures back up its reach: more than 10 million downloads and a 4.0 average across 968,448 ratings.

What you get for that install is a reference tool rather than a game or a course. It carries over two million definitions and synonyms, drawing on the content of Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com, and it is built for Android phones and tablets. Definitions and synonyms are the core, and the extras around them are where the app tries to be more than a lookup box.

I like that the app assumes you will use it in short bursts. A word you half-remember, a synonym that will not come, a pronunciation you want to check before saying it out loud: those are the moments this app is designed around. The first release dates back to February 2010, and the most recent update, on September 28, 2026, was limited to bug fixes and performance improvements.

Reference tools beyond a plain lookup

The main draw is the pairing of dictionary and thesaurus in one place. Rather than moving between two tools, you can check what a word means and then see the alternatives that sit near it. For anyone drafting an email, an essay or a post, that combination covers most of what a quick reference session needs.

Example sentences are included as well, so you can see a word doing actual work in a line of prose instead of only reading its definition. Idioms get their own space, which matters because phrases rarely mean what their individual words suggest. Rhymes are there for anyone writing verse or lyrics, and audio pronunciations cover the words you would rather hear than guess at.

Grammar tips and word usage notes round out the reference side, and the developer also includes editorial articles on words, the origins of the language and the quirks that make English hard to pin down. Those pieces are reading rather than reference, but they fit the same habit of curiosity about language.

Daily habits, browsing and a quiz

Word of the Day is the feature that turns the app from something you open when stuck into something you open on a schedule. One new word a day is a modest commitment, and it is the sort of thing that adds up over a school term or a year of casual reading.

Search history is customizable, which is useful if you want to keep track of the words you have recently looked up and revisit them later. The developer has also added A-Z browsing, so you can move through the dictionary alphabetically rather than only searching for a word you already have in mind. That is a browsing mode for people who enjoy language, not just a way to fill a gap.

Dictionary Shuffle takes a different approach: it picks a word at random and drops you at its definition. The developer frames it as a challenge for people who think they know every definition. It is a light way to test yourself, and it sits alongside the reference tools rather than replacing them.

Dark mode is available for anyone who prefers a darker screen while reading or looking words up at night. It is a small thing, but it is the kind of option that makes a reference app easier to keep open for longer stretches.

What it costs and what comes with it

The app is free to install, and it carries ads. There are no in-app purchases, so there is no paid tier to weigh against the free version and nothing to buy once you are inside. The trade is straightforward: you get the full set of reference tools at no cost, and advertising is part of the package.

Because the app is free and ad-supported, I would treat it as a tool you try before deciding how much it earns a place on your home screen. If you look up words several times a week, the ads are the price of access; if you need a dictionary only occasionally, the free download still makes sense because there is nothing to commit to.

The content rating is Everyone, which fits a general reference app. There are no purchases to explain, no subscription to manage and no upgrade path to consider. What you see on install is what the app is.

How it compares with the alternatives

A free dictionary app sits in a crowded field. Search engines answer a definition query in seconds, and a browser tab can do the same job without an install. What this app offers over those routes is a dedicated space for reference work: thesaurus entries next to definitions, example sentences, idioms, rhymes, audio pronunciations and grammar notes in one place, without the noise of a general search results page.

Dedicated reference books are the other comparison, and the difference is portability. A physical dictionary cannot pronounce a word for you or show you how it behaves in a sentence. A paid reference app may offer a different set of features, but this one is free and built on content from Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com.

The habit the app encourages is different from both. Word of the Day, Dictionary Shuffle and A-Z browsing are reasons to open it when you are not stuck on a specific word, which is not something a search engine or a paper dictionary invites you to do.

A reference app worth keeping on your phone

For students, writers, English learners and anyone who reads with a dictionary nearby, this app covers the ground well. Definitions and synonyms are the foundation, and the extras, from audio pronunciations to grammar tips and daily words, give you reasons to return. The 4.0 average across a large body of ratings suggests a tool that has settled into a steady role for many users.

The ads are the main thing to accept going in, since the app is free and supported by them. There is no purchase to make and no premium version to compare against, so the decision is simply whether a free, ad-supported reference tool earns space on your device. If you look up words often enough to want thesaurus entries, example sentences and pronunciations in one place, I would install it and see how it fits your routine.

It is not a course and it will not teach you English on its own, but that is not what it is built to do. As a dictionary and thesaurus you can carry in your pocket, with a few features that nudge you toward learning a word a day, it does the job it sets out to do.

What's new in version 12.1.3

This release includes bug fixes and performance improvements.