There was a time when people used to use thick dictionaries for learning the meaning of a word as well as for learning a language. Now, with the blessings of technology, we don’t have to go through that much of hard work. with a smart device and a good internet connection anyone can find out meanings and definitions of several words with just one click. And that is possible because of the innovation of online dictionaries. Online dictionaries have proved to be a great help in learning English language.
However, now-a-days there are so many options associated with online dictionaries that it is easy to get confused about which one to use. This is why we have prepared this article containing some of the best dictionaries that you can use for learning English. The names of the dictionary along with their unique features are provided below,
Cambridge Dictionary
Cambridge dictionary is the online version of Cambridge international dictionary with various added features that uplevels it even more. One of the most popular features of the dictionary includes showing the level of searched English words. You can also add words to your vocabulary list by registering in the site. Both of British English and American English transcriptions are given. You can also use the audio feature to learn a pronunciation.
Macmillan Dictionary
Macmillan Dictionary is one of the most popular dictionaries to make it to the list. The dictionary shows you a detailed grammatical explanation of the word you have searched for. If the word is marked with stars and comes in red colour, then it signifies that the word is a part of the core English Vocabulary. Just like Cambridge dictionary, this dictionary also offers both British and American version of a word. It will also show phrasal verbs and common phrases at the end of the page. There is also a blog section where you can find several helpful blogs and articles.
Collins dictionary
Collins dictionary has made it to the list because of its feature of suggesting several versions of the interpreted words. The dictionary offers a more difficult version for native level use and an easier version for beginners. Another interesting feature to be added to Collins dictionary is the feature of videos with pronunciation, which can be quite helpful to the beginners as they can gain a clear understanding on how to pronounce certain words. At the bottom of the page, you can find language statistics as well. You can also find blogs, video guides, quizzes and many more elements to learn English fast and easily.
Marriam-Webster Dictionary
Merriam-Webster is a dictionary that is mainly based on American English. The pronunciation and the transcription of the words are given only in the American version. Registering to the site will allow you to save words to your profile for practicing later. The most popular feature of this dictionary is the Time Traveller section. With the help of this feature, you can easily plug in your birth year and the dictionary will how you the words that were first used in print in the said year. In the Thesaurus section, you can find synonyms, antonyms and many more. You can also entertain yourself with via Games and Quizzes section. With the help of the core vocabulary section, you can learn 3000 most important English words.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Longman dictionary is one of the most popular names among the online dictionaries that are used today. The dictionary is designed in a way that it will help you in memorizing new words very quickly and clearly. In every word page there is a grammar block, which explains if you should use singular or plural verb with the word. Common grammatical errors are also pointed out in this section. There is an English Language Exercise section that offers exercises on vocabulary, listening, speaking and grammar.
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary
Oxford learner’s dictionary is a standard type of dictionary that provides very standard solutions. It offers most common definitions and examples, which actually becomes very easy to learn for the learners. In Oxford Learner’s Word Lists you can find the most common used words and phrases.
ALDictionary
ALDictionary is the newest dictionary to make it to the list. The dictionary is unique because it has some of the most helpful features. ALDictionary offers definitions, meanings, synonyms, and antonyms of the searched words along with a detailed grammatical explanation. There are several other features that are capable of gaining the attention of the users, such as scrabble word builder and word sudoku. However, the best feature of the dictionary lies in the multi-language program. There are more than 10 languages that you can learn with the help of ALDictionary, these languages include, Chinese, Arabic, Bengali, English, Hindi, Spanish, Japanese, Russian and more. Therefore, it can be one of the best choices when you try to learn English.
