How To Purchase, Download, and Use the Offline Dictionary?

Need to use our Dictionary, but don't have access to wifi or a network connection? Our Offline Dictionary is here to help! You can purchase our Offline Dictionary and have access to our Dictionary and Thesaurus, on the go.

While most of our app features do require a network connection to function, we do have an Offline Dictionary available (as an in-app purchase in our Free app, or it comes automatically with a your purchase of our Pro/Premium app). Our Offline Dictionary file contains our *house* Dictionary and Thesaurus entries to allow you to look up words and synonyms even when you are off the grid.

In our Dictionary.com: English Words app, our Offline Dictionary is available, for purchase, as an optional Upgrade. It is available via the “Upgrades” tab, as well as in the “Settings” menu.
In our Dictionary.com: Pro Learn Words app, the Offline Dictionary is included in your purchase of the app. You will need to download the Offline Dictionary file.

Before you get started downloading the Offline Dictionary, we highly recommend you:

Establish a wi-fi connection to ensure it is able to download successfully.
It is also a large file, so please ensure you have sufficient space on your device.
You'll need to also ensure that you've given the app permission to access your device's Storage, so the app can save the Offline Dictionary file to your device. Without Storage permission, the app cant save the file and you won't be able to use the Offline Dictionary.

To purchase and download the Offline Dictionary from “Settings”:

Open the Dictionary.com app.
Tap on the “Menu” (three horizontal lines, located in the top, left-hand corner).
Tap on “Settings.”
See the “Unlock Offline Dictionary” and tap the purchase button- listed with the price of the Offline Dictionary.
You’ll be prompted to complete your purchase, through the App Store. (if applicable)
- You may be prompted to login to your App Store account first (depending on your App Store purchase settings).
Once you’ve successfully completed the purchase, via the App Store. You should see a prompt to start your download of the offline dictionary file.
Alternately, you may need to navigate to your app's "Settings" and toggle the 'Download Offline Dictionary.' You'll see the dictionary begin the download.
- Again, we highly recommend you ensure you have a strong wi-fi connection before you begin the download.
Once the download has successfully been completed, to use the Dictionary and Thesaurus while offline, toggle the "Always Use Offline Dictionary" to the ON position. This will let you use the offline dictionary.
- You can also toggle 'Always Use Offline Dictionary' if you prefer to use this source, rather than the online version. ( But note that you will only see the 'Definitions' and 'Thesaurus' tabs when in offline mode- other tabs are not available when "always use offline dictionary" is on.)

If the "Always Use Offline Dictionary" toggle is not switched ON when your device doesn't have a network connection, you will not be able to arrive at dictionary or thesaurus results pages.

How can I tell when I am using the Offline Dictionary?

When the Offline Dictionary is being used, on a given word entry you'll see only the 'Definitions' and 'Thesaurus' Tabs and an "Offline Mode" banner. See this image for an example; note the tabs in the white banner and the "Offline Mode" note:

The Learners tab, and any additional upgrades you purchased are not available when you are in offline mode or using the offline dictionary. To access these, switch your offline dictionary off (via Menu> Settings> Toggle OFF 'Always Use Offline Dictionary') and ensure you have a strong cell/network or wifi connection. Then try the search again.

When the Offline Dictionary is not being used, depending on what content is available for that term, you'll see more tabs including 'Definitions', 'Thesaurus', 'Learners', 'Upgrades', and any additional upgrades/in-app purchases you've made (such as 'Grammar', 'Idioms', etc.). Here's an example— note the tabs in the white banner/ribbon:

Important Notes on the Offline Dictionary:

The offline dictionary, though quite robust, is a smaller version than what is available within the app, when you are connected to wifi or cell network.
The offline dictionary contains Dictionary entries and synonyms from our Thesaurus.
The 'Learners' dictionary is not available offline.
The pronunciation feature is not available in the Offline Dictionary- this requires a cell/mobile network or wifi connection.
All other options (learners dictionary) and purchased Upgrades (ex: example sentences, grammar, idioms, encyclopedia, science dictionary, and rhymes), are not available in the Offline Dictionary. These require a cell/mobile network or wifi connection.