The sense first, then the entry
First, a short explanation of the word in this sentence. Below it, the entry from your dictionary, untouched.
Meaning in context
Which meaning? The one this sentence is using.
A dictionary entry lists every sense a word has ever had. AALookup reads the sentence you're pointing at, tells you which sense it's using and how it's used here, and puts the dictionary entry next to it for when you want the rest.
No account needed. Your dictionaries stay on your computer.
What you can do
Explained in your language
Choose the language for explanations in Settings. The word can be in one language and the explanation in another.
Phrases as phrases
Idioms, phrasal verbs and compound terms are recognised from a single word, so you're not left piecing them together yourself.
Free, no sign-up
How to start
- Download and open AALookup
macOS or Windows, under 20 MB, no account needed.
- Let it see your screen
On a Mac, allow Accessibility so it can read the word under your pointer, and Screen Recording for text in games and images. Windows asks for nothing.
- Point at a word
Three-finger tap on a Mac, or press your shortcut on Windows. The meaning appears next to the word.
What users say
I'm a Mac user, and the trackpad gesture alone made me download it. Lookups are fast, and it combines the strengths of dictionaries and AI. The built-in three-finger Look Up often gets the range of a Chinese word wrong; AALookup is spot-on in English and nearly always right in Chinese. Genuinely smooth.
It's not just fast, it's that you can look things up anywhere. And the interface is modern; it feels like my dictionary app jumped from an antique straight into the present.
Common questions
Which languages can I look up?
Whatever your dictionaries cover. Chinese, Japanese and Korean text is recognised on screen, as is English.
Is the explanation always online?
The explanation is an online feature with a free trial. Your dictionaries work offline and without limits either way.
Can I turn the explanation off?
Yes. Without it, the panel shows your dictionaries only, instantly.
Is it free?
Dictionary lookups are free and unlimited. Explanations come with a free trial, and Plus adds more.
Get AALookup
Free download
Local dictionaries work offline and without limits. AI explanations come with a free trial.
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