Smart Word Explainer
Smart Word Explainer is a lightweight and easy-to-use WordPress plugin that enhances the reading experience by providing instant word lookups. When a user selects a word on your website, a popup appears with:
- Word definitions
- Pronunciation guide with audio
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Usage examples
This plugin helps improve content comprehension and vocabulary building for your readers without them needing to leave your website.
Features
- Instant word lookups with a simple text selection
- Clean, modern popup design that fits any theme
- Pronunciation audio playback
- Multiple definitions organized by part of speech
- Related synonyms and antonyms
- Usage examples
- Responsive design for all screen sizes
- No API key required (uses the free Dictionary API)
- Lightweight with minimal impact on page load times
- Professional admin interface with comprehensive documentation
How It Works
- A user selects a word on your website
- Smart Word Explainer detects the selection
- A popup appears with the word’s definition, pronunciation, synonyms, and more
- The user can close the popup by clicking outside it, clicking the close button, or pressing ESC
Credits
This plugin uses the Free Dictionary API to provide word definitions, pronunciations, synonyms, and antonyms. The Dictionary API is an open-source, free-to-use API that provides dictionary data for multiple languages. Special thanks to the maintainers of this excellent resource. The API is used under the terms provided at https://dictionaryapi.dev/.
Admin Interface
After activation, visit Tools → Word Explainer in your WordPress admin to access:
- Quick Start Guide: Step-by-step instructions with sample words to test
- Feature Overview: Complete list of plugin capabilities
- Plugin Status: Technical information and system status
- Troubleshooting: Solutions to common issues
- How It Works: Visual workflow explanation
- Support & Credits: API information and acknowledgments
The admin interface provides everything you need to understand, test, and use the plugin effectively.
How to Test the Plugin
IMPORTANT FOR REVIEWERS: This plugin works automatically after activation. Here’s how to test it:
Quick Testing Method
- Activate the Plugin: Install and activate through WordPress admin
- Visit Admin Page: Go to Tools → Word Explainer for detailed instructions
- Go to Frontend: Visit any page or post on your website
- Select a Word: Use your mouse to select (highlight) any English word
- View the Popup: A definition popup will appear instantly
Recommended Test Words
Try these words for best results:
* example – Common word with multiple definitions
* beautiful – Adjective with synonyms and antonyms
* technology – Noun with pronunciation audio
* wonderful – Word with usage examples
* computer – Technical term with clear definitions
What You Should See
- A clean, modern popup appears near the selected word
- The popup contains the word’s definition(s), organized by part of speech
- Pronunciation with audio playback button (when available)
- Synonyms and antonyms (when available)
- Usage examples in context
- Responsive design that works on all screen sizes
Popup Controls
- Click the ▶️ Listen button to hear pronunciation
- Click the X button to close the popup
- Click outside the popup to close it
- Press the ESC key to close it
Troubleshooting Testing
- No popup appears: Make sure you’re selecting a single English word (not phrases, numbers, or special characters)
- “No definition found”: This is normal for very uncommon words, proper nouns, or non-English text
- Audio doesn’t play: Some words may not have audio pronunciation available