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Best free online dictionaries for English learners

For most English learners, the best dictionary is a learner’s dictionary — Longman, Cambridge, or Oxford — because every definition is written with a small set of simple words, and every entry has example sentences and audio. This page lists the free dictionaries, translators, and pronunciation tools we recommend, and explains when to use each one.

Learner’s dictionaries (start here)

  • Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (LDOCE) — Every definition is written using only about 2,000 common words, so you never need to look up the definition itself. Entries include US and UK audio, collocations, and grammar notes. One of the reference options built into ESLDesk’s word lookup.
  • Cambridge Dictionary — Clear learner definitions with US and UK audio, and many words are labeled by CEFR level (A1–C2) so you know how important they are. Also offers bilingual versions in more than 20 languages. A great everyday choice for any level.
  • Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries — Simple definitions, usage notes, and pictures, plus the Oxford 3000 list that marks the most important words to learn. Strong coverage of phrasal verbs and idioms. Everything is free, with audio for both American and British English.
  • Britannica Dictionary — Formerly Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary, focused on American English. Easy definitions with lots of example sentences and notes about grammar and common word combinations. Best if you specifically want US usage explained simply.

General & American English dictionaries

  • Merriam-Webster — The standard reference for American English spelling and usage — it’s the dictionary ESLDesk follows for US spelling. Definitions are written for native speakers, so it works best for intermediate and advanced learners. Includes a thesaurus, Word of the Day, and word games.
  • Vocabulary.com Dictionary — Explains words in friendly, plain English instead of formal definitions, then helps you practice them with adaptive quizzes. It’s the default dictionary in ESLDesk’s word lookup. Great for building real understanding, not just translations.
  • Wordnik — Collects definitions from several dictionaries on one page and shows real example sentences from books and the web. Useful when a newer or unusual word isn’t in your learner’s dictionary yet. Also one of ESLDesk’s built-in reference options.
  • Wiktionary — A free wiki dictionary with enormous coverage: slang, word forms, word origins, and translations into many languages. Because anyone can edit it, quality varies by entry — double-check important words in a learner’s dictionary. Handy as a backup for rare words.

Translators & bilingual dictionaries

  • Google Translate — Instant translation between English and 100+ languages, with a listen button and camera input for signs and menus. This is what the 🌐 translate buttons on ESLDesk word lists open. Fast for understanding — but it can be too literal with idioms, so check new words in a learner’s dictionary before using them.
  • DeepL Translator — Often produces more natural-sounding sentence translations than other tools, in 30+ languages. Its companion site Linguee shows words inside real bilingual example sentences. Best for translating whole sentences or checking how a phrase is really used.
  • WordReference — High-quality bilingual dictionaries (Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, and more) with grammar notes for each translation. Its famous forums answer thousands of “how do I actually say this?” questions. The best place to understand the small differences a translator hides.
  • Reverso Context — Shows your word or phrase translated inside many real example sentences, so you can see which translation fits your situation. Especially good for idioms and expressions that word-for-word translation gets wrong. Free to search, with optional flashcard practice.

Pronunciation tools

  • YouGlish — Type any English word or phrase and hear it spoken by real people in YouTube videos, with the exact moment highlighted. Filter by American, British, or Australian accent. Perfect for hearing how a word sounds in natural, fast speech.
  • Forvo — Human recordings of individual words by native speakers around the world, often with several recordings per word so you can compare accents. You can also request words that aren’t recorded yet. Great for checking names, places, and tricky single words.