Merriam-Webster Dictionary+
A dictionary app for learning English vocabulary and improving language skills.
iPhone · iPad
Quick verdict
- What it is
- The Merriam-Webster Dictionary+ app provides offline access to definitions and synonyms, allows users to sync their favorite words across devices, and includes voice search and word games.
- Best for
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- someone who wants to learn English vocabulary
- a student who needs a dictionary
- At a glance
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- $9.99
Categories and search queries
Official categories
- Reference
- Books
AppCorpus categories
Key functions
| Function | Availability | Access | Scope | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Sharing | Yes | Unknown | App Store | Store published |
Screens
App Store
17 store screenshots
Pricing & paywalls
App Store
- Price: $9.99
Ratings & reviews
App Store
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5/5Simply the best
This is the only online dictionary I use or recommend. It has so many (free) ways to help people expand their vocabulary, and these extras work for high school & college, to writing for personal reasons. That’s the extra that I use, and love, the most; the common synonyms & antonyms, but also M-W includes a lot much more. The one that’s best for me & my writing is the origin of the words, including the approximate historical date (in centuries) in which the word was “created” and who most likely created it. At times I find that the original meaning (as used when it was created) is very different to the present day meanings! I went ahead & bought the pro-version, as I use it so often in my writing. I’ve found that M-W the dictionary to be the most user friendly, & helpful. Apologies, but I don’t remember how much is was. I only remember that it wasn’t very much. Just try it, (even the free version still has almost all the things I’ve mentioned.) use it for awhile & compare it to the other online dictionaries. I’m confident that you’ll pick, & stay with, the Merriam-Webster dictionary. 👍🏼
AintThatAShame · 30 Aug 2026
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5/5Extremely Useful.
I I love the word of the day. I use this app daily. 5/5 star rating. I recommend it to everyone I know. know. is one of the best reference apps ever but I couldn't find an American version. Aside from that it's great for high school or college students. The vocal pronunciation component helps me comprehend and absorb the definitions even better. It also gives me more confidence to integrate a new word in a conversation and feel comfortable about it. This app is quick to access and does not make such a chore to build up my personal vocabulary. Let's face it— Going out of my way to physically look up a word in a giant book is not something I would normally do in order to learn about a new word... Now, I can learn definitions in seconds + hear the pronunciations on the spot. I use it in my everyday life and because of it's quick & easy access, my personal vocabulary is now more extensive. This app is a very useful tool and a Must Have. Anything that helps me be lazy yet still learn new things gets five stars! I LOVE THIS APP! Thank You! :D
EmLyssy · 30 Aug 2026
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1/5Used to be great, now the app doesn’t even work
March 2023: Paid for this upgraded version of the app, used it for years. Now in recent months, after an “update” or whatever “bug fixes and other tweaks” as they call it…the app doesn’t even work anymore. Constantly freezes as soon as I open it. Frustrating! Pretty disappointed Update June 2024: Seemed to be great, now I’ve rethought it. Sorry but this app is trash. Paid $10 for this “upgraded, no-ad” version of the original app, used it for a while with no problem. As of 2023 the app completely stopped working. It’s now 15 months later and it still freezes every time as soon as I open it. Doesn’t matter if you update it, the app simply won’t work as it’s advertised to. What’s even more interesting is, I deleted the app and downloaded again, just to see if maybe I was wrong and these guys had changed their strategy. Nope, as soon as I opened it, it worked for about 20 seconds until I noticed ghost touches on my screen and bam, it stopped working again 🤔 Must be those “bug fixes and other tweaks“ I bet, huh? Shady! Pretty disappointed ya’ll took my money and flipped the script on the consumer. Any user with a brain can tell this app is used for snooping…shameful.
HumbleUrselfB4GodDoesit4U · 30 Aug 2026
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5/5M-W Defends The English Language
I switched from the Oxford dictionary app I previously had for what might appear to be political reasons yet is actually a non-partisan one: defense of word definitions. When President Trump began tweeting out non-sensical statements that twisted or hollowed out the very meaning of certain words he was trying to use in an Orwellian manner, M-W would tweet out a response that focused on the actual definition of the word in defense of meaningful language. It may have appeared partisan to some, but to me it was a simple & timely reminder that words are not empty vessels. They are not window dressing. They are the window itself and attempts to use them to communicate in a way that is deliberately counter to their actual meaning effectively gaslights an entire language & the very culture that relies on it. I am happy with the app, & even happier supporting a company that recognizes that defending the meaning of words is to defend its core reason for being. Thank you M-W.
Lunarseas · 30 Aug 2026
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5/5Hands down best dictionary app
Not only is it the best dictionary app on my phone, it’s probably the best designed app I’ve ever used. It’s been on my phone for more than a decade so I don’t recall if I coughed up money for the ad-free version or not but if I did, it was a one-time affair and a good use of money. There’s no in-app purchases offered. It’s useful, and unexpectedly, entertaining. It doesn’t get in the way of my workflow with distracting notifications. That may be my personal settings but turning off or limiting notifications on other apps often doesn’t work or reduces the functionality of the app. I could go on about my satisfaction with the M-W app, but won’t. I’ll just say, if you are debating a dictionary app, others are excellent too but eventually get sunsetted. This one will withstand the test of time, is the best source for definitions anyway, and its thesaurus is excellent and easy to use too—no more writer’s block!
DelBttrfly · 30 Aug 2026
Privacy & accessibility
App Store
Privacy
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Accessibility
No accessibility labels collected yet.
Versions
App Store
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4.3.1
We added push notifications to the app.
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4.3.2
iPhone X support (FINALLY!) Many bugs quashed
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4.4
iPad multitasking! We’re knocking off our most requested features one-by-one. Bug fixes and other tweaks (e.g. the search box doesn’t flip down awkwardly on startup anymore).
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4.4.1
Bug fixes. WatchOS Update.
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4.5
We completely restructured our database to get you dictionary updates faster and more efficiently #allthewords And, to demonstrate that: here are some new words! Hangry, bingeable, and thousands more are now available on the app!
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4.6
New dictionary and thesaurus entries. Siri Shortcut integration.
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5.0.3
-Thousands of new words! -User login to share your saved words across all Merriam-Webster Collegiate apps and the website -Clean, easy-to-read new design
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5.2.3
New dictionary and thesaurus entries! Word-of-the-Day widget for iOS 14. Bug fixes and user experience improvements.
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5.5.0
Dark mode Improved Accessibility features Additional tweaks and updates
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5.5.2
Updates to the look and feel of the app. Fixed a few small bugs.
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5.6.0
Updated dictionary with new entries!
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5.6.4
Dictionary update with new entries and revised definitions. Search improvements.
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5.6.6
Updated dictionary with new word additions!
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5.6.7
Updated dictionary with new word additions!
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5.6.8
Dictionary update with new entries and revised definitions. Bug fixes and other small tweaks.
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5.7.0
Latest dictionary update with new words and revised definitions! Bug fixes and other small tweaks.
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5.7.1
Bug fixes and other small tweaks.
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5.7.2
Bug fixes and other small tweaks.
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5.8
Dictionary updated with new words, and newly revised definitions.
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5.8.2
Dictionary updated with new words, and newly revised definitions. Bug fixes and other small tweaks.
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5.8.3
Bug fixes and other small tweaks.
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5.9
A dictionary update with new words, and newly revised definitions. Bug fixes.
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5.9.1
A dictionary update with new words, and newly revised definitions. Bug fixes.
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5.9.2
A dictionary update with new words, and newly revised definitions. Bug fixes.
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5.9.5
· 29 Jul 2026
Bug fixes.
Alternatives
- Dictionary and Thesaurus Pro — Same category + similar ratings
- Oxford Deluxe (InApp) — Same category + similar ratings
- WordWeb Dictionary — Same category + similar ratings
- Idioms and Slang Dictionary — Same category + similar ratings
- American Heritage Dictionary 5 — Same category + similar ratings
- Etymonline English Dictionary — Same category + similar ratings
Availability by market
- US
Data quality & evidence
- Page completeness
- Independent summary published
- Last verified
- 30 Aug 2026
- Sources
- App Store