A dictionary is a special book with which you can discover new words and understand the meaning of words you’ve come across recently. The book may have a large number of words and their definitions. The problem with the traditional dictionary is that the user must spend some time locating the word. If a dictionary has 100s of pages, identifying the meaning of the word will be a frustrating experience for the user.
The best and quickest way to find the synonym of words is to use a good dictionary app on a mobile device. The applications use a fast searching algorithm to get the meaning of words from a database table. They are lightweight and free. Below, I’ve shared the best Android dictionary apps you can use on a phone or tablet.
Best dictionary apps for Android
Oxford Dictionary of English
The Oxford Dictionary retails for $2 in offline bookstores. If you don’t want to spend money or waste time looking up words, download the free version of the Oxford Android dictionary app from the Google Play Store.
Oxford is a popular dictionary app. It is easy to use. When you run it on your Android device, you’ll see a large popup box that displays the details on the premium version of the Oxford app. To close the popup, tap the back button of your mobile phone.
The main interface of this application includes a search box where you must enter the word. Below the box, the app displays a list of words. The list is accompanied by a vertical scroll bar, and it contains over 300K words. When you enter a letter in the box, Oxford will display the words beginning with the entered letter.
Oxford Dictionary supports voice input. It makes users aware of the words they’ve searched for recently. The word of the day feature displays a new random word and its definition every day. The size of the Oxford dictionary app is 15 megabytes.
Dictionary.com English Word Meanings & Definitions
Dictionary.com is one of the most popular Android dictionary apps. It gives users access to 2+ million words and their meanings. Like other apps mentioned on this list, DDC provides a search utility. Beneath the search box, you’ll find a toggle button to filter the search results. DDC features a list of the most searched words. It has a translator tool to translate words into 30 languages. It also includes a word pronouncer utility.
The app shares tips on improving writing skills and vocabulary. Dictionary.com provides a voice search function. It lets users go through the official Dictionary.com blog, where English language experts share their tips on improving grammar, vocabulary, etc.
Must check: Best free word games
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
According to its developers, MW is the most respected dictionary app in the United States. Merriam-Webster includes quiz tests that help users build vocabulary and learn new words.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary can pronounce words for you. It has quick definitions utility which displays the definitions of words on the fly. MW maintains a list of words you’ve searched recently. It features a favorites section where you’ll find a list of the words you’re searching for often. It provides examples of how words are used in sentences.
Offline English Dictionary
If you’re looking for an offline dictionary app for Android, download and install OED. This application has a simple interface. As it doesn’t require internet connectivity to work, OED is an ad-free application.
Like other dictionary apps I’ve covered here, OED maintains a list of the recently searched words. OED has a settings interface where you’ll find options to change the following aspects of the app:
- Text font size, UI color.
- Page orientation, line spacing,
The settings interface allows users to turn on/off the voice-to-text feature. It enables you to define a shake action.
Similar English dictionary apps:
HinKhoj English Hindi Dictionary
Hindi is a widely spoken language. If you’re traveling to India, install Hinkhoj to understand the language spoken by the locals. Hinkhoj supports Hindi swear words. The great thing about this app is that it understands Hindi words typed in English. It also makes you aware of the word’s meaning.
Apart from providing definitions, Hinkhoj suggests words similar to the entered terms. The app also shares its antonyms. It helps users in improving their vocabulary. It has three games which will help you in discovering new words. Hinkhoj ships with a word pronouncer tool. It provides a spelling checker utility. It includes an inbuilt OCR tool that recognizes the terms printed on images. Hinkhoj is one of the best dictionary apps for Android.
Also see: Best language learning apps
Final thoughts: If you have got a lousy vocabulary or you’re trying to learn English, install one of the free dictionary apps I’ve shared above on your Android device. The applications are intuitive. You don’t have to register an account or pay money to use them.
