Next time you come across an unfamiliar word while reading an ebook, don’t immediately turn to Google! Kindle reading apps and most Kindle devices have built-in dictionaries that allow you to learn definitions of new words without having to leave your book. Once you follow the steps below to set your default dictionary, you’ll be able to tap on any word while reading to view its definition.
How to look up words in the Kindle app and one Fire devices
If you have the Kindle app for Android or iOS or a Kindle Fire tablet, follow these instructions to set up your dictionary and start looking up words:
- Tap on any word to look up its definition.
- A pop-up window should appear with the word’s meaning and the option to change the default dictionary.
- Hit “Change Dictionary” to view the available list of dictionaries.
- When you see an option you like, select it to change it to your default dictionary.
Looking up words on Kindle eReaders
If you have a 4th or higher generation Kindle, Oasis, Paperwhite, or Voyage device, follow these steps to easily look up definitions directly from your Kindle book.
- Tap and hold the word you want to look up.
- Release your finger once the selected text appears highlighted.
- A dictionary pop-up box should appear on your screen with a brief description of the word’s meaning.
- To exit the pop-up box, you can tap anywhere outside the box or press the “X” in the top right corner.
If you’d like to change your default dictionary on your Kindle you can follow these steps:
- From Menu, go to Settings.
- Navigate from Device Options to Language and Dictionaries to Dictionaries.
- Tap on the active dictionary if you want to switch to a different dictionary.
- If you tapped on the active dictionary, a list of available dictionaries for your device will pop up.
- Hit the button on the right side of the dictionary you want to use as your default dictionary.
Kindle dictionary features
On most later-generation Kindle devices, there’s tab marked “More” within the definition pop-up box. You can click this to save the word to your Notes & Marks files, look up the word on Wikipedia, or translate the word to another language.
For more information about optimizing your eBook reading experience, check out our other posts about all things Kindle!
