How do I use OneLook’s thesaurus / reverse dictionary?
OneLook lets you find any kind of word for any kind of writing.
Like a traditional thesaurus, you
can use it to find synonyms and antonyms, but it’s far more flexible.
Describe what you’re looking for with a single word, a few words,
or even a whole sentence. Type in your description and hit
Enter (or select a word that shows up in the autocomplete preview)
to see the related words.
You can order, filter, and explore the
words that come back in a variety of creative ways.
Here’s a video which
goes over some of the basics.
What are some examples?
Exploring the results
Click on any result to see definitions and usage examples tailored to your search,
as well as links to follow-up searches and additional usage information when available.
OneLook knows about more than 2 million different
words and expressions covering every topic under the sun.
Try exploring a favorite topic for a while and you’ll be surprised
how much new stuff there is to learn!
Ordering the results
Your results will initially appear with the most closely related word shown first,
the second-most closely shown second, and so on.
You can re-order the results in a variety of different ways, including
alphabetically, by length, by popularity, by modernness, by formality, and by other
aspects of style. Click the
box that says «Closest meaning first…» to see them all.
(Here’s a short video about sorting and filtering
with OneLook Thesaurus.)
Filtering the results
You can refine your search by clicking on the «Advanced filters» button
on the results page. This lets you narrow down your results to match
a certain starting letter, number of letters, number of syllables, related
concept, meter, vowel sound, or number of syllables.
Read more details on filters if you’re interested in how they work.
I’m only looking for synonyms! What’s with all of these weird results?
For some kinds of searches only the
first result or the first few results are truly synonyms
or good substitutions for your search word.
We highlight these results in yellow.
Beyond that, the results are meant to inspire you to consider similar words and adjacent
concepts. Not all of the results will make sense at first, but they’re all
connected with your search in some way. We’d rather give you too many options than
too few. If you’re unsure of a word, we urge you to click on
it to check its definitions and usage examples before using it in your Oscars
acceptance speech or honors thesis.
What are letter patterns?
If you know some letters in the word you’re looking for, you can enter a pattern instead of, or in addition to, a description. Here are how
patterns work:
- The asterisk (*) matches any number of letters.
That means that you can use it as a placeholder for any part of a word or phrase.
For example, if you enter blueb* you’ll get all the terms that start with «blueb»; if you enter
*bird
you’ll get all the terms that end with «bird»; if you enter
*lueb*
you’ll get all the terms that contain the sequence «lueb»,
and so forth. An asterisk can match zero letters, too. -
The question mark (?) matches exactly one letter.
That means that you can use it as a placeholder for a single letter
or symbol. The query l?b?n?n,
for example, will find the word «Lebanon». -
The number-sign (#) matches any English consonant.
For example, the query tra#t finds the word «tract» but not «trait». -
The at-sign (@) matches any English vowel (including «y»).
For example, the query abo@t finds the word «about» but not «abort». -
NEW! The comma (,) lets you combine multiple patterns into one.
For example, the query ?????,*y* finds 5-letter words
that contain a «y» somewhere, such as «happy» and «rhyme». -
NEW! Use double-slashes (//) before
a group of letters to unscramble them (that is, find anagrams.)
For example, the query //soulbeat will find «absolute»
and «bales out»,
and re//teeprsn will find «represent» and «repenters».
You can use another double-slash to end the group and put letters you’re sure of to the
right of it. For example, the query //blabrcs//e will find «scrabble».
Question marks can signify unknown letters as usual; for example, //we???
returns 5-letter words that contain a W and an E, such as «water» and «awake». -
NEW! A minus sign (—) followed by some letters at the end of a pattern means «exclude these letters». For example, the query sp???-ei finds 5-letter words that start with «sp» but do not contain an «e»or an «i», such as «spoon» and «spray».
-
NEW! A plus sign (+) followed by some letters at the end of a pattern means «restrict to these letters». For example, the query *+ban finds «banana».
- On OneLook’s main search or directly on OneLook Thesaurus, you can combine patterns and thesaurus lookups
by putting a colon (:) after a pattern and then typing
a description of the word, as in
??lon:synthetic fabric and the other examples above.
Other ways to access this service:
- Drag this link to your browser’s bookmarks bar for a convenient button that goes to the thesaurus:
OneLook
- Enter onelook.com/word into your browser’s address bar to go directly to the OneLook Thesaurus entry for word.
- We offer a OneLook Thesaurus iPhone/iPad app
for a low subscription fee, with a two-week free trial.
This gives you OneLook at your fingertips, and
several cool app-only features, while helping us maintain the service for all! - If you use Google Docs, the thesaurus is integrated into the free OneLook Thesaurus Google Docs Add-On as the «Synonyms» button. (Wildcard patterns are not yet suppoerted by this add-on.)
- If you regularly use the main OneLook site, you can put colon (:) into any OneLook search box,
followed by a description, to go directly to the thesaurus. - If you’re a developer, the Datamuse API gives you access to the core features of this site.
Is this available in any language other than English?
The same interface is now available in Spanish at OneLook Tesauro
as a beta version. More languages are coming!
How does it work?
We use a souped-up version of our own Datamuse API,
which in turn uses several lingustic resources described in the «Data sources» section
on that page. The definitions come from Wiktionary,
Wikipedia, and WordNet.
Here are some known problems
with the current system.
Much gratitude to Gultchin et al for the algorithm behind the «Most funny-sounding» sort order.
Profanity and problematic word associations
If you’re using this site with children, be forewarned you’ll
find profanity and other vulgar expressions if you use OneLook frequently.
(We take an unflinching look at how words have actually been used; scrubbing out
hurtful wordswould be a disservice to everyone.)
Some of the thesaurus results come from a statistical analysis of the
words in a large collection of books written in the past two
centuries. A handful of times we’ve found that this analysis can lead
us to suggest word associations that reflect racist or harmful
stereotypes present in this source material. If you see one of these,
please know that we do not endorse what the word association implies.
In egregious cases we will remove it from the site if you
report it to us via the feedback link below.
Privacy
No personally identifying information is ever collected on this site
or by any add-ons or apps associated with OneLook. OneLook Thesaurus sends
your search query securely to the Datamuse API, which keeps a log file of
the queries made to the service in the last 24 hours. The log file is deleted
after 24 hours and we do not retain any long-term information about your
IP address or invididual queries.
Who’s behind this site and where can I send my comments and complaints feedback?
OneLook is a service of Datamuse.
You can send us feedback here.
The sunburst logo (🔆) is the emoji symbol for «high
brightness», which we aspire to create with OneLook. (The
graphic came from the open-source Twemoji
project.)
Online dictionary: English Definition translation of words and expressions, definition, synonyms
English dictionary with thousands of definitions, examples, synonyms and phrases
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Table of Contents
- 1 How do I find a word by definition?
- 2 How do I quote a dictionary definition in my essay?
- 3 What words are they taking out of the dictionary?
- 4 Do dictionaries have every word?
- 5 How do new words become official?
- 6 Is LOL in the dictionary?
- 7 Does BAE mean boyfriend?
- 8 What does TLDR stand for?
- 9 Are nicknames a sign of affection?
- 10 What pet names do guys like to be called?
How do I find a word by definition?
Using the context of the paragraph to define unknown words can also helpful. Although it takes practice, it is the easiest and most efficient way to identify words. Often, using the context is the only way to figure out the meaning of the word as it is used in the sentence, passage, or chapter. Consider the word “bar”.
How do I quote a dictionary definition in my essay?
To cite a dictionary definition in APA Style, start with the author of the dictionary (usually an organization), followed by the publication year, the word you’re citing, the dictionary name, the publisher (if not already listed as author), and the URL.
How do you write a dictionary definition?
If you’re just starting out writing definitions, begin with words that have specific meanings, especially nouns. Compare the number of meanings in a dictionary for specific words, such as “keepsake” or “prattle” to the number of meanings for widely-used words such as “down” or “set”, and you’ll see why.
How does a word get deleted from the dictionary?
The dictionary is a steadily enlarging volume, with thousands of new words being added each year. That’s because the English language constantly evolves and changes. As a result, words get removed from the dictionary, though this doesn’t happen nearly as frequently as they’re added.
What words are they taking out of the dictionary?
These words may be removed from some dictionaries
- Aerodrome.
- Alienism.
- Bever.
- Brabble.
- Charabanc.
- Deliciate.
- Frigorific.
- Supererogate.
Do dictionaries have every word?
Dictionaries do not contain all the words ‘ Some words are omitted because they are obsolete, and others are left out because they are not germane to anyone but a specialist (dictionaries tend to not define all of the known chemical compounds, for instance).
Can I invent a word?
A lot of us make up new words. They’re called neologisms and coinages. Making up new words is fun, creative, and—especially when that word addresses a gap in the language—an extremely useful thing to do. The dictionary only includes words that have a specific meaning many people can agree on.”
Who decides what words go in the dictionary?
To decide which words to include in the dictionary and to determine what they mean, Merriam-Webster editors study the language as it’s used. They carefully monitor which words people use most often and how they use them.
How do new words become official?
A word gets into a dictionary when it is used by many people who all agree that it means the same thing. First, you drop the word into your conversation and writing, then others pick it up; the more its use spreads, the more likely it will be noticed by dictionary editors, or lexicographers.
Is LOL in the dictionary?
The internet slang term “LOL” (laughing out loud) has been added to the Oxford English Dictionary, to the mild dismay of language purists. The popular initialism LOL (laughing out loud) has been inducted into the canon of the English language, the Oxford English Dictionary.
Is LOL bad word?
Nobody expects you to laugh out loud when you say LOL, but it’s okay if you do. It’s important to note that even though LOL is an official word, it’s not usually appropriate for many professional or educational settings. What’s more, some might also use LOL in a passive-aggressive way.
What does BAE mean in Korean?
Bae is largely used in the Korean language, and it is derived from Korean and Vietnamese origins. From Korean roots, its meaning is inspiration. Bae is a variant of the name Bay (English and Vietnamese). See also the related category korean.
Does BAE mean boyfriend?
Bae is an acronym that’s typically used to refer to: a boyfriend/girlfriend. a spouse. a lover.
What does TLDR stand for?
Too Long Didn’t Read
What if a girl calls you BAE?
When a girl calls you a bae it means that she may give a hint that she is interested in moving forwarded with their relationship.
What does it mean when a guy calls you BAE and you’re not dating?
That being said, calling someone who you’re not dating babe could be a good way to hint that you’re interested in them. “The subtle mention of the word will get you’re crush thinking,” Maria says. So, if you’re feeling brave, maybe try it out next time you’re chatting with your crush.
Are nicknames a sign of affection?
A nickname can say a lot about a person. Nicknames have been around as long as people have been talking. ! According to a study by Bellevue University, Nebraska, men give nicknames as a way of being affectionate without compromising masculinity.
What pet names do guys like to be called?
Cute Names to Call Your Boyfriend
- Sweetie/Sweetheart. A nice easy one to kick us off – there is nothing divisive about ‘sweetie’.
- Boo.
- Tiger.
- Sugar.
- Darling/Darlin’
- Handsome.
- Pumpkin.
- Baby/Babe.
neugenery
Guest
-
#1
Hello,
Is there possible to look up a word when we just have concept about? e.g. I’d like to know what describe the following definition:
‘a very large number of things, probably more than is necessary’ just as an example, that’s not the point here.
I find it just once solitary perhaps solution, which I’ll describe it in the blog Neugenery.
Last edited: Jan 16, 2012
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2009
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- British English
- Home Country
- UK
- Current Location
- UK
-
#2
Re: Neugenery
Hello,
Is there possible to look up a word when we just have concept about? e.g. I’d like to know what describe the following definition:
‘a very large number of things, probably more than is necessary’ just as an example, that’s not the point here.
I find it just once solitary perhaps solution, which I’ll describe it in the blog Neugenery.
Hello and welcome to the forums.
I have found that you can sometimes find a word by Googling the definition along with «a word which means» but it happens only occasionally. The only online reverse dictionary I can find is: OneLook Reverse Dictionary
Please give your threads titles which refer to the actual post somehow. «Finding a word by its definition» would have been good.
neugenery
Guest
-
#3
Sorry for the title, looking up in the OneLook ends up like the following, would one potentially find at first glance? beside they are from variety word family!
1. alot
2. studying in vienna
3. several
4. double
5. obese
6. million
7. great
8. huge
…
…
91. ton
92. hyperreal number
93. accident-prone
94. regular issue coinage
95. point
96. dimension
97. difference
98. swordfish
99. monitor
100. bundle
5jj
Moderator
Staff member
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2010
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- British English
- Home Country
- Czech Republic
- Current Location
- Czech Republic
-
#4
Sorry for the title, looking up in the OneLook ends up like the following, would one potentially find at first glance? beside they are from variety word family!
1. alot […]
100. bundle
Sorry, but I just do not understand this.
Nowadays, it is very easy and convenient to find the meaning or definition of a certain word online. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of ways to do it and you’re no longer restricted to visiting those online dictionary sites. You can use an extension or an app. You can even directly search for the word and get its meaning on Google Search.
Now, what if you want to do a reverse dictionary search? In reverse dictionary search, you can find specific words by providing a phrase, concept or definition. For example, if you want to know the exact word for “barrel maker”, you can look it up to find a list of relevant words.
How to find a word by phrase, concept or definition online
- On your web browser (ex. Chrome, Firefox), open the “OneLook Reverse Dictionary” page.
- Once you’re on the said page, enter or describe your concept on the field provided. Alternatively, you may choose to enter a definition or phrase that would best fit the word that you’re looking for.
- With OneLook Reverse Dictionary, you can look up for relevant words based on different parameters. You can use definitions, concepts, categories, questions and even clues or patterns from crossword puzzles.
- As stated in the example above, if you want to know the exact word for a person who makes barrels, just type “barrel maker” on the search field.
- To confirm, click “Find Words”.
- On the results page, there will be a list of words shown. These words will be automatically sorted out by relevance so the word that best fits your query will most likely be placed on top.
- You can also filter the search results if you want so that the words that will be shown will only be limited to verbs, adverbs, adjectives or nouns.
That’s it. You’re done.
Related Posts
Kent is a content creator and digital marketing enthusiast. She loves to share tips and tricks related to consumer tech.
Word Of The Day
clime
Not to be confused with «climb», a clime is a region known for its weather. In the dead of winter, we dream about heading to sunny climes, where we can hang out in shorts.
The key to remembering clime is that it’s so similar to «climate,» with which it shares the Greek root klima, «zone.» So a clime is a zone that has a characteristic climate. Folks in colder climes think nothing of the kind of snowfall that we down here in the south get all panicked about. But then again, when they come here to our warmer clime, they forget to put on sunscreen; people from one clime can learn a lot from a visit to a different clime.
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Commonly Confused Words
See all >
A comprehensive guide to correct word choice
allusion / illusion / delusion
Novelists, magicians, and other tricksters keep these words busy. Novelists love an allusion, an indirect reference to something like a secret treasure for the reader to find; magicians heart illusions, or fanciful fake-outs; but tricksters suffer from delusions, ideas that have no basis in reality.
read more >
predominate / predominant
If you win an election by a 3:1 margin, are you the predominant winner or the predominate winner?
read more >
discreet / discrete
Discreet means on the down low, under the radar, careful, but discrete means individual or detached. They come from the same ultimate source, the Latin discrētus, for separated or distinct, but discreet has taken its own advice and quietly gone its separate way.
read more >
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Our definitions were written by humans, for humans.
Each word has a friendly explanation that makes it easy to remember.
Real world examples
Discover thousands of example sentences from current newspapers,
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World’s smartest, fastest dictionary
Find the word you’re looking for faster than any other online dictionary.
That’s less time searching, more time learning.
Hello,
I’m quite new to NLP and I struggle with the following task:
My input is the definition of a word (casual, said by a human), and the algorithm has to find the word that best fits the definition. For example: «It’s a very big animal, it’s grey, with a good memory and a very long nose» => «elephant».
I tried some methods: Bag of words (with fasttext), ad-hoc matching of words using ConceptNet data…without much success.
I have the intuition that I should use the sentence structure beyond just the presence of words (because «It is an animal» is different from «It’s where you find animals») but I’m confused by the diversity of NLP algorithms to deal with sentences.
Would you have suggestions of tools and algorithms that would be worth investigating for this task ?
Thanks a lot for your help!
For info: My goal is to help children practice English with games that make them speak to a bot.
—-
Edit: thanks everyone for your help, I’ll study your ideas and keep you posted on my conclusions if you are interested
If you’ve ever forgotten that one word you can never remember, here’s a useful tool to help you out.
Dictionaries help us find the meaning of a specific word we are searching for. But what if you don’t remember the word, but you know its meaning? You have it at the tip of your tongue, but can’t quite remember.
In such cases, One OneLook Reverse Dictionary comes to the rescue. It is designed to solve this common problem for writers, speakers, and other language enthusiasts who just can’t put a finger on the word they’re looking for.
What Is the OneLook Reverse Dictionary?
OneLook Reverse Dictionary is a free reference site to find a word by its definition. Most language producers face the problem of finding the right word at the right time, just when their brains can’t recall it.
OneLook Reverse Dictionary helps users find the word by explaining what it means. The dictionary allows users to find synonyms and phrases related to the word they’re looking for. You can also type the suggested definition that falls into the same category of the related word and the dictionary will provide you with the best-related words.
How to Use OneLook Reverse Dictionary
OneLook Reverse Dictionary is a simple tool with a powerful search interface. Follow the steps below to use this tool:
Head to the OneLook Reverse Dictionary site.
Type in a word or phrase related to the word you’re looking for and hit Enter. You will get the list that defines that word.
You’ll now be shown a list of all the matching words. The first few results are likely the closest match to the word you’re looking for.
Alternately, you can type wildcard patterns consisting of certain letters you know along by replacing the ones you don’t know with an asterisk. The right format to type a pattern is to type the word with asterisks, add a colon, and use the phrases to describe it. This is an especially useful tool to help players solve crossword puzzles.
Conclusion
With the help of the OneLook Reverse Dictionary, you can find a word when you know its definition. You can also explore synonyms, generate a list of words in the same category, or can even get answers for basic identification questions.
So, when you fail to remember a word, use the reverse dictionary and get all suggested definitions and related words to get your job done the easy way.