# Support the "Look Up" feature in macOS to quickly check word definitions

**URL:** <https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/support-the-look-up-feature-in-macos-to-quickly-check-word-definitions/13181>\
**Category:** Suggestions\
**Created:** [September 10, 2021, 4:27pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/support-the-look-up-feature-in-macos-to-quickly-check-word-definitions/13181 "2021-09-10T16:27:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![xurc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c4cdca/32.png) [@xurc](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/xurc)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2021, 4:27pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/support-the-look-up-feature-in-macos-to-quickly-check-word-definitions/13181/1 "2021-09-10T16:27:52Z")

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# Description of feature request

In macOS, the [“Look Up” feature](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/look-up-words-mchl3983326c/mac) allows users to easily access the OS built-in dictionaries:

 ![Look Up](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/2X/b/b4cbbc979da767e89b14b9e5f68a01d6d93545de.jpeg)

When using Anki to learn foreign vocabularies, it would be much more convenient for me if I could use the “Look Up” feature to find in-depth definitions of any words in the cards. I imagine many Anki language-learners on macOS would benefit greatly as well.

# Additional notes

- To my limited knowledge, this feature requires native macOS [Contextual Menus](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/macos/menus/contextual-menus/) in order to work.
  - …which means it works out of the box in native macOS apps.
  - Firefox, a non-native app, recently implemented native macOS Contextual Menus in version 89.0. I assume this means it’s not technically impossible to implement Contextual Menus and Look Up in Anki, although it could require much work.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dae](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/dae/32/65_2.png) [@dae](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/dae)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2021, 7:32am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/support-the-look-up-feature-in-macos-to-quickly-check-word-definitions/13181/2 "2021-09-11T07:32:37Z")

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I’m not sure this is possible with Qt. If anyone has any insight, please let us know. 🙂