iPhone 5, my 'define' word feature no longer is an option. How can I get it back?

Question

Level 1

4 points

iPhone 5, my 'define' word feature no longer is an option. How can I get it back?

I've googled this numerous times and can't find anything. Last night I went to the Apple store to speak with a "Genius". 3 different employees told me they have never heard of this and recommended that I try "googling it". I figured I might be better off trying to solve this problem on my own...

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Also, i'm not looking for the temporary fix of changing to British English. I live in the USA, not in Britain.

iPhone 5, iOS 6.0.1

Posted on Dec 19, 2012 2:26 PM

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Answer 1

razmee209

Level 10

193,722 points

Dec 19, 2012 2:31 PM in response to TrickNostril

When you hold down on a specific word, you should 3 option copy/select all/ define.

Does that happen for you?

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Answer 2

cheonweb

Level 4

3,485 points

Dec 19, 2012 2:31 PM in response to TrickNostril

Did you tried to Reset your iPhone?

Hold down both Power and Home button and keep pressing until Apple logo appears. Then release and wait to reboot.

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Answer 3

TrickNostril Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 19, 2012 3:02 PM in response to razmee209

Used to on my iPhone 4... Not now, the define word is just not there.

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Answer 4

TrickNostril Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 19, 2012 3:03 PM in response to cheonweb

Wow really? Uh ya, i've tried this. You need a job at an apple store?

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Answer 5

lll

Level 4

2,006 points

Dec 19, 2012 3:08 PM in response to TrickNostril

those people are trying to help you. Don't be sarcastic

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Answer 6

TrickNostril Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 19, 2012 3:46 PM in response to TrickNostril

Does anyone have a viable solution to this problem? I am not a beginner user, I've tried all the usual techniques.

Also, keep in mind, this has stumped 3 "geniuses" at the Apple store.

My software is up to date and a software re-install has fixed nothing.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Answer 7

cheonweb

Level 4

3,485 points

Dec 19, 2012 3:58 PM in response to TrickNostril

"Any help is greatly appreciated."

- I don't thing so.

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Answer 8

TrickNostril Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 19, 2012 4:03 PM in response to cheonweb

Any help would be appreciated. Just because you respond with the foremost generic answer hoping and praying for it to be right, so you can get points doesn't warrant my appreciation. Don't patronize me.

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Answer 9

cheonweb

Level 4

3,485 points

Dec 20, 2012 12:21 AM in response to TrickNostril

YOU are hoping and praying, because YOU have the problem. My iPhone works perfectly and i don't need any point especially from you. Are you really believe that the reason for all of us to trying help other people is the points?

Do you ever think why do we do this or is to "deep" for you?

Good luck with your problem (I mean the "define" problem with your iPhone)

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Answer 10

TrickNostril Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 20, 2012 7:46 AM in response to TrickNostril

Good one cheonweb. I solved my problem on my own. No thanks to you.

For people that actually care about solutions, follow these steps if you have this problem:

Go to Settings>General>International>Language
Change the language to one of Apples supported languages like Spanish.
Go to your notepad, type "test", press hold, select the word, and click the "define" that now appears.
This will tell you there is no current dictionary, and prompt for one to be downloaded.
Assure you are on a stable Wi-Fi network, and hit download.
Once complete, go back to your language settings and switch back to your native language.
Enjoy your dictionary feature without having to "reset" your phone.

I have found that many people that early ordered their iPhone 5 have/had this issue. Sounds like Apple messed up on a few phones. Oh well..

Cheonweb, make sure to add this technique to your repertoire of iPhone repairs.

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Answer 11

cheonweb

Level 4

3,485 points

Dec 20, 2012 11:04 AM in response to TrickNostril

WOW! You get my job at the Apple Store! Very clever. Why the 3 "Genius" guys didn't thought that?

Ok. There are more than one way to solve a problem.

But before you start to play with your settings is good to try a Reset.

You will learn sometime... maybe.

Good bye

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Answer 12

TrickNostril Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 20, 2012 12:51 PM in response to cheonweb

Funny, this just so happens to be the ONLY solution to this problem.

Now go back to trolling the discussion board looking for an iPhone reboot to solve the World's problems.

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Answer 13

cheonweb

Level 4

3,485 points

Dec 20, 2012 1:06 PM in response to TrickNostril

"Ok. There are more than one way to solve a problem.

But before you start to play with your settings is good to try a Reset."

You don't get the point of this or my English are not good enough.

BTW. Restore from backup or Restore as new is ANOTHER one (Or two).

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Answer 14

Apr 15, 2013 9:25 AM in response to TrickNostril

I'm having almost the same problem. To begin with, the define option doesn't appear anywhere, except in ibooks. However, it only looks up words found in a Spanish dictionary. I've checked my settings, everything is up to date and the language of the phone is in English.

So I changed the language of the phone to Spanish, and now the Define option appears in other apps apart from ibooks, something which didn't occur before. BUT, it still only searches for words in Spanish, whereas any word in English comes up as "no definitions found".

Apple people are telling me to reset/restore the phone and back up my stuff on my computer so that I don't lose my apps.

Any opinions?

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Answer 15

TrickNostril Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 15, 2013 10:17 AM in response to izzymoshay

@izzymoshay,

make sure you are on a WiFi connection or the defien prompt most likely will not be available.

Once on WiFi, just go into messages or wherever and write anyword. Double tap the word. You will have to hit the right arrow on the prompt that comes up to see the "Define" function. Once you hit this, it will prompt you at this point to download the dictionary.

I completely reset my iPhone 5 last week and had to do this. Worked with no issues.

Let me know if you have trouble! 🙂

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