en reading

Look up words without leaving your reading

All guides · 中文 · Read on aalookup.com

Use the desktop lookup panel with selectable text, PDFs, images and unfamiliar word forms.

Updated: 2026-10-06

Look up the word under the pointer

1. Keep the source app visible and place the pointer on the word, then use the shortcut or gesture configured in Settings. On Mac, a supported trackpad can use a three-finger tap.
2. The panel opens beside the text. Read the captured word and sentence first; if recognition chose the wrong word, use an offered spelling or screen-recognition alternative, select the intended text and try again, or type it in Search.
3. Read the available dictionary entries. Open a full entry for its original layout, examples, links, images and available audio. Drag the panel by its word heading if it covers your reading.
4. Save the word when you want to learn it. A lookup in History and a word saved to Words serve different purposes; check your automatic word-saving setting if you want every lookup added.

Websites, PDFs and ebooks

Text exposed by the source app can be read directly. Scanned PDFs, image-based pages and apps that do not expose usable text may need OCR. Keep the word visible and reasonably large; AALookup cannot read hidden pages or content outside the current screen.

A selected phrase can be easier to capture than an ambiguous pointer position. For a long sentence, use translation rather than expecting a single dictionary entry to explain the whole passage. Protected or unusual app surfaces may not provide readable text.

Understand the meaning in this sentence

On desktop, online explanations can use the captured sentence to explain the current meaning. This requires a connection and available allowance. An explanation can arrive after the dictionary result; local dictionary reading remains available if the service is offline or your allowance is exhausted.

Online explanation sends the selected word and reading context needed for that request. Treat it separately from local dictionary lookup. Explanations can be mistaken: compare them with the original sentence and dictionary. Current settings use the AALookup service rather than a custom API-key or model picker.

Continue from a lookup

• Use a frozen screen for games or subtitles
• Translate a sentence
• Save and organize words