thesaurus on dictionary widget doesn't work

When I click on the dropdown menu on Mac's dictionary widget, nothing happens. I like to use the thesaurus and want that back. How can I fix this? (I am not interested in a different widget, I have a habit of using Mac's and I'd like not to change it, thanks!)

MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015), iOS 10.3.3

Posted on Jul 24, 2017 1:24 PM

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Posted on Dec 12, 2017 9:38 AM

I too had experienced this issue after updating my Mac OS, I was frustrated in the extreme as I used the Widget Dictionary and Thesaurus a lot. I pretty much never used the Dictionary app. Not sure why, force of habit I guess.


BUT - one day I launched the Apple Dictionary app (Note: App NOT widget.) Apparently it was the first time I had launched the app since I updated Mac OS. It asked me to download dictionary content - after seeing that I had a hunch that the app and widget might share the dictionary resources - I went and checked, and discovered that the widget had regained full functionality! Yay!! (^_^)

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 12, 2017 9:38 AM in response to ryanacostafox

I too had experienced this issue after updating my Mac OS, I was frustrated in the extreme as I used the Widget Dictionary and Thesaurus a lot. I pretty much never used the Dictionary app. Not sure why, force of habit I guess.


BUT - one day I launched the Apple Dictionary app (Note: App NOT widget.) Apparently it was the first time I had launched the app since I updated Mac OS. It asked me to download dictionary content - after seeing that I had a hunch that the app and widget might share the dictionary resources - I went and checked, and discovered that the widget had regained full functionality! Yay!! (^_^)

Jul 25, 2017 11:39 AM in response to ryanacostafox

Hello ryanacostafox,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities!

I understand from your post that when you click on the Dictionary feature on your Mac that nothing happens. You may want to check the Dictionary preferences.
  1. Launch the Dictionary app by opening Launchpad from your Dock
  2. Click Dictionary
  3. With the Dictionary open click the word Dictionary in the upper left of your Mac
  4. Select Preferences from the dropdown menu
  5. Make sure all the resources you want to use are selected and in the order in which you would like to use them.
This article has more information about the Look up feature which you may find helpful: macOS Sierra: Look up words

If you still see a blank screen when using the Look up feature restart your Mac into safe mode and test it again. Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support

Best Regards.

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thesaurus on dictionary widget doesn't work

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