Look up a word
Open Dictionary, enter an English word and choose Look up. Use the speaker button to hear it.
DICTIONARY BOOK / SUPPORT
A little help.
Back to learning.
Find answers, set up your dictionaries and keep your vocabulary safe. Support for Dictionary Book 2.0 on Mac.
macOS 14+2.0Learning records stored locally
Getting started
Three small steps to make words your own.
Make it yours
Save the word to your vocabulary. Add a collection, tags or a personal note. You can also create your own entries.
Come back to it
Open Daily review, recall the meaning and reveal the answer. Rate your recall to set the next review interval.
01 / SETUP
Dictionary setup
Definition language and interface language are separate settings. The dictionary content available depends on your Mac’s enabled dictionaries.
- In Dictionary Book, choose your definition language on the lookup page or in Settings. English gives English definitions.
- Open the macOS Dictionary app from the in-app download guide. Press Command-comma to open its settings.
- Enable the English bilingual dictionary you need, or an English dictionary for English definitions. Downloads require internet access; available language pairs depend on macOS.
- Move your chosen dictionary to the top. If results still use another language, disable conflicting dictionaries, then retry in Dictionary Book. Reopen the app if necessary.
A missing result does not necessarily mean a dictionary is missing. The app checks the language of returned text and may hide results it cannot confirm. It guides you through setup; it cannot automatically download or switch macOS dictionaries.
02 / FAQ
Common questions
Which macOS versions are supported?
Dictionary Book 2.0 requires macOS 14 or later and supports Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Why did changing the app language not translate my words?
The interface supports English, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish and French. Definition language defaults to the interface language but can be set separately. Saved entries and personal notes are not automatically translated. The 12 built-in learning entries are available in English and Chinese only.
How does daily review work?
Try recalling the meaning first, then choose Again, Hard, Good or Easy. The next interval adjusts to your rating using a schedule inspired by SM-2. Again returns a word after 10 minutes. You can undo the last rating. There are no review notifications when the app is closed.
How do I back up my vocabulary?
Use the import/backup menu at the bottom of the sidebar to export a JSON backup. It includes words, notes, collections and review history. Keep a copy somewhere safe. Import adds new words and preserves existing entries and their progress; it does not replace or fully restore existing records.
Will my old word lists transfer to version 2.0?
Not automatically. The old data format is not supported by the new importer. Keep a copy of any old lists before updating. JSON import accepts backups created by Dictionary Book 2.0; it does not accept arbitrary dictionary files.
Can I print or use the app offline?
Press Command-P to print the current entry or filtered word list; the macOS print dialog can save a PDF. Saved words and review work offline. Dictionary lookup relies on installed system dictionaries; downloading additional dictionaries needs internet access.
What should I do if a backup cannot be read?
Keep the original file and avoid editing or deleting it. A read error may indicate a damaged or incompatible backup. Contact support with the error message and app version; do not send your full word list unless needed.
Still need a hand?
Include the app version, macOS version, steps to reproduce the issue and the error message. A screenshot can help; hide personal information first.
InfiniteOpen · 无限开源科技
contact@infiniteopen.cn
Your learning records stay on your Mac. Exported backups are saved where you choose. Contacting support shares only the information you decide to send by email.