1. Select what slowed you down
Highlight text, double-click a word, use the modifier shortcut, open the context menu, or search from the toolbar popup. The resizable card stays beside the source sentence.
Page-native lookup
Six dictionary sources
AI when you ask
Understand the word. Keep your place.
Select a word, phrase, or sentence and get a useful answer beside what you are reading. Dictionary combines results from six sources, adds translation and pronunciation, then lets you ask focused AI questions or rewrite a draft without opening another tab.
Available now on Mozilla Firefox Add-ons · Chrome Web Store release coming soon
01Select text · stay in the
article
02Results arrive progressively
from every source
03AI context is sent only for
enabled AI work
Reading a technical article
A clear definition helps, but ambiguity in context can still make a sentence hard to understand.
ambiguity
Dictionary
Six sources
/ˌæm.bɪˈɡjuː.ə.ti/ListenPractice
noun · More than one possible meaning;
the sentence decides which one fits.
Merged resultsWord familyContext AI
A reading workflow, not a destination
From “what does this mean?” to “how do I use it?”
Dictionary keeps the lookup beside the page. It shows the first usable result quickly, then appends contributions from every configured dictionary source as they arrive. Deeper explanations stay one deliberate action away.
2. See every useful contribution
The primary result renders first. Wiktionary, Free Dictionary API, Datamuse, RhymeBrain, Urban Dictionary, and Wiktionary Bilingual continue in the background; usable definitions, examples, audio, and related words are merged into one result.
3. Ask the next useful question
No prompt engineering required. Seven focused AI actions cover meaning in context, grammar, phrase patterns, sentence structure, confusable words, and three Rephrase styles. AI is optional and runs only when you choose an action.
Rewrite without leaving the page
The separate Rewriter tab accepts a sentence, email, or short paragraph. Choose a tone and get polished text plus coaching notes in the same popup.
Keep detail available, not in the way
Word family, formation, usage notes, collocations, and learner mistakes stay behind focused disclosures so definitions and examples remain readable.
Settings that fit the workflow
Choose providers, translation language, theme, text size, triggers, popup geometry, cache behavior, and AI connections from the full settings page.
Dictionary tab
See translation, senses, examples under their definitions, pronunciation controls, and merged provider sources in one scrollable view.
Pronunciation and practice
Use provider audio when available, fall back to browser speech, and practice the word with a spoken similarity score where browser support allows it.
AI Assistant and Rewriter
Use sentence context for a focused explanation, then switch to Rewriter when the goal is to improve the draft rather than understand it.
Interactive product walkthrough
See the answer grow as each source responds.
Explore a word, idiom, sentence, confusable pair, or draft. These curated samples mirror the extension’s tabs and result hierarchy without making network requests.
Dictionary · interactive preview
Curated sample results. This page does not call provider
or AI APIs.
Six sources mergedVietnamese
The demo mirrors the extension’s workflow. Live provider requests happen only inside the installed extension; contextual AI requests happen only after your action.
Focused AI actions · not a blank chat box
Ask the language question you actually have.
The core lookup flow works without an AI key. When you enable AI, choose Gemini or an OpenAI-compatible endpoint and run only the explanation you need.
All-source dictionary results
Wiktionary, Free Dictionary API, Datamuse, RhymeBrain, Urban Dictionary, and Wiktionary Bilingual all get a chance to contribute. Usable results are merged; no-match sources stay visible as status, not fake definitions.
Listen and practice
Hear provider audio or browser speech synthesis, then use the Chrome speech-recognition practice flow to receive a similarity grade.
Exact text and phrase recovery
Lookups preserve the selected text, including inflections and multi-word phrases. When a phrase has no usable dictionary definition, optional AI phrase fallback can explain it.
Main AI
Oxford-style definition, numbered senses with a Used in context badge, bilingual examples, and interactive word-family chips.
Context Explain
Explains the exact role in this sentence, one-line substitution test, and syntactic replacements that preserve your sentence structure.
Grammar & Nuance
Syntactic slot, collocation pattern rules, register guidance, and a Common Learner Mistakes card with Avoid / Prefer pairs.
Phrase & Collocations
Deconstructs idioms, phrasal verbs, and natural preposition partnerships so you learn how native speakers actually use the term.
Sentence Breakdown
Parses complex sentences into grammatical clauses with role badges, clickable phrase chips, and clear clause explanations.
Compare Confusables
Side-by-side distinction matrix and minimal-pair sentences for easily mixed terms like affect vs effect or adapt vs adopt.
Rephrase
One action returns three rewrite styles in parallel: Simplified, Academic & Formal, and Native Idiom—with explanatory notes.
Designed for the reading moment
One popup for lookup, learning, and rewriting.
Dictionary is not trying to replace a full vocabulary system or a general chat app. It keeps the useful language tools close to the sentence that prompted the question.
| Need | Basic dictionary extensions | Generic AI chat | Dictionary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stay on the page | Often | Usually a new tab | In-page popup and toolbar |
| Translation + definition | Sometimes one, not both | If you prompt for it | Together in one result |
| Pronunciation and practice | If the provider has audio | Rarely | Provider audio, speech fallback, and spoken practice score |
| Idioms and phrases | Often a dead end | If you know what to ask | Phrase recovery and dedicated actions |
| Senses, grammar, rewrites | No | Unstructured chat | Named AI intents, sense cards, compare matrix, Rephrase (three styles), and a dedicated Rewriter tab |
| Polish a draft in place | No | New tab, you write the prompt | Rewriter tab: four tones, diagnostic notes, polished output beside the page |
| Your providers and keys | Usually locked in | Vendor account | Configurable sources, local credentials, AI optional |
Dictionary is a page-native lookup studio, not an Anki or spaced-repetition replacement. Lookups stay in the reading moment; there is no cloud vocabulary account.
Install & Browser Support
Install for Firefox or Chrome.
Dictionary is officially published on Firefox Add-ons. The Chrome Web Store version is pending review — in the meantime, you can install for Chrome via developer mode or load unpacked builds.
Official Release
Add to Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons
Install with one click from Mozilla's official add-ons directory. Receive automatic background updates.
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1
Firefox (Recommended)
Get the official extension directly from the Mozilla Add-ons Store page with one-click installation and automatic updates.
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2
Chrome (Developer Mode / Unpacked)
While the Chrome Web Store listing is under review, you can load it directly: clone or download the repository, run
npm install && npm run build, then inchrome://extensionsturn on Developer mode and click Load unpacked on.output/chrome-mv3. -
3
Build from source
Clone the repository, install dependencies, and build both browser targets:
git clone https://github.com/thaihai-swe/dictionary-extension.git cd dictionary-extension npm install && npm run build -
4
Try it on any webpage
Select any word, click the floating icon, or use the right-click menu. For local HTML files and PDFs, enable Allow access to file URLs in Chrome extension details. Speech Practice uses Chrome’s Speech Recognition API.
Dictionary lookup, translation, and pronunciation do not require an account or AI key. AI features can use Google Gemini or an OpenAI-compatible local or hosted endpoint when configured in Settings.
Privacy by default
You choose what gets looked up, cached, and sent to AI.
The extension keeps provider requests, AI context, credentials, and local cache behavior explicit. Ordinary lookups send the selected query to the configured providers; surrounding page context is reserved for an intentional AI action.
Context only when you ask
Contextual AI actions use the immediate sentence, capped at 800 characters. Ordinary dictionary lookups send the selected query, not the surrounding page.
Credentials stay in extension storage
AI and translation keys are kept in extension-managed local storage and used by the background service worker. They are not injected into webpage content.
Use the endpoint you trust
Connect Google Gemini or an OpenAI-compatible endpoint such as Ollama, Groq, OpenRouter, or a private local server. The provider, model, endpoint, and prompts are configurable.
No background tracking
Lookup results can be cached locally for faster repeats. You can disable persistence or clear the cache in Settings; the extension does not record reading history or track visited URLs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The practical details before you install.
Provider behavior, AI context, browser support, settings, and the local installation workflow in one place.
Do I need an API key to use Dictionary?
No. Dictionary lookup across Wiktionary, Free Dictionary API, Datamuse, RhymeBrain, Urban Dictionary, and Wiktionary Bilingual, plus translation and pronunciation, work without an AI key. Configure an AI provider only when you want generative explanations or rewriting.
Does Dictionary send the webpage I am reading to AI providers?
Standard dictionary lookups send the selected query to the configured provider endpoints. When you invoke a contextual AI action, only the single surrounding sentence (capped at 800 characters) is sent. The rest of the page is not included.
Does the extension wait for one dictionary provider?
No. The configured primary source renders first, then the remaining dictionary providers run progressively. Usable definitions, examples, phonetics, and related words are merged into the same result; providers with no usable match are reported as status instead of being presented as contributions.
Can I choose the source, theme, or reading size?
Yes. Settings include the primary dictionary source, translation engine and language, light or dark theme, text size, lookup triggers, popup dimensions, cache persistence, and AI provider configuration.
Is Dictionary an Anki replacement or spaced-repetition (SRS) system?
No. Dictionary is built specifically as an in-situ reading companion: fast lookups, audio practice, and contextual AI on the active page. It keeps you in your reading flow rather than managing flashcard decks or cloud vocabulary lists.
Where are API keys stored and are they safe?
API keys are stored in extension-managed local storage and used by the background service worker. They are not injected into webpage content scripts. Exported settings omit secret keys.
How do I trigger a lookup on a webpage?
You can highlight text or double-click to show the floating lookup icon, use the configured modifier shortcut, open the card directly on selection, right-click to choose “Look up in Dictionary”, or search from the toolbar popup. Triggers are suppressed inside form inputs.
What is the difference between Rephrase and Rewriter?
Rephrase is one of seven AI Assistant intents. One click returns three parallel rewrite styles of the reading sentence: Simplified, Academic & Formal, and Native Idiom—each with a short note. Rewriter is a separate tab for drafting: paste a sentence, email, or short paragraph, pick one of four tones (Formal, Natural, Concise, Casual), and get a polished rewrite plus diagnostic coaching notes. They are not the same feature.
Is there a Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons listing?
Yes. Dictionary is officially available on the Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store. The Chrome Web Store submission is currently in review. Until Chrome Web Store approval, Chrome users can load the unpacked extension in Developer mode from the built .output/chrome-mv3 folder.
Open source · no subscription
Keep reading. Look up only what you need.
Build the extension locally or install directly from Firefox Add-ons, choose your providers and target language, and bring the next difficult sentence into the same reading workflow.