When reading a dense report or writing an academic paper in Google Docs, you might encounter a word you do not fully understand. Instead of opening a new browser tab, navigating to a dictionary website, and typing the word manually, you can use a hidden tool inside Google Docs to define the word instantly right on your screen.
How to Use the Built-In Dictionary
Google Docs contains a fully integrated dictionary that works seamlessly with your text.
- Open your Google Docs document.
- Find the word you want to define. Highlight the word by double-clicking it.
- Click on Tools in the top menu bar.
- From the dropdown menu, click on Dictionary.
A sidebar will instantly slide open on the right side of your screen. This sidebar will display the exact definition of the highlighted word, along with its part of speech (noun, verb, adjective), its pronunciation guide, and a list of common synonyms.
The Faster Keyboard Shortcut
If you use the dictionary frequently, navigating through the “Tools” menu every time is inefficient. You can achieve the exact same result using a quick keyboard shortcut.
- On a Windows PC or Chromebook: Highlight the word, then press Ctrl + Shift + Y.
- On a Mac: Highlight the word, then press Cmd + Shift + Y.
The dictionary sidebar will immediately slide open with the definition ready to read. You can also use the search bar at the very top of the dictionary sidebar to manually type and search for completely different words without having to type them into your document first.