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Documentation

How NearWord works, what it can do, and how to set it up.

Showing instructions for macOS.

Getting Started

Requirements

Before installing NearWord, make sure your system meets these requirements:

  • Operating System: macOS 12 (Monterey) or later
  • Processor: Apple Silicon or Intel
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM minimum
  • Storage: 100 MB available space
  • Internet: Required for dictionary lookups and AI features

Installation

  1. Download the latest version from the download page
  2. Open the downloaded .dmg file
  3. Drag NearWord to your Applications folder
  4. Launch NearWord from Applications or Spotlight
Note: On first launch, macOS may ask you to confirm opening an app from an unidentified developer. Right-click the app and select "Open" to bypass this.

First-time Setup

When you first open NearWord, you'll be guided through initial setup:

  1. Grant Accessibility permissions — NearWord needs this to capture screen content. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility and enable NearWord.
  2. Press the hotkey — Use ⌥ + ⇧ + S anywhere to look up the word under your cursor.
  3. Select your theme — Choose between light, dark, or system-matched appearance in Settings.

Features

Word Lookup

NearWord captures the screen area around your cursor and uses OCR to detect text. Press the hotkey to look up any word — in any app.

  • How it works: Press ⌥ + ⇧ + S, and NearWord captures a region around your cursor, runs OCR to extract text, then looks up the word in the dictionary.
  • Works everywhere: Browsers, PDFs, games, ebooks, videos — anything visible on screen.
  • Limitations: OCR accuracy depends on font size, contrast, and text clarity. Very small text or stylized fonts may not be detected reliably.

The Overlay

The overlay is a floating panel that appears near your cursor. It displays:

  • Word and pronunciation — Including phonetic spelling
  • Part of speech — Noun, verb, adjective, etc.
  • Definitions — Multiple meanings with numbered entries
  • Examples — Usage in context when available
  • Contextual translation — Translation and explanation when signed in

Use the copy buttons to copy the word or full definition. Press Esc to dismiss the overlay.

History

Every word you look up is automatically saved to your history. Your history is stored locally on your device.

  • Search: Find past lookups by typing in the search bar
  • Review: Click any entry to see its full definition again
  • Delete: Remove individual entries or clear your entire history

Contextual Translation

When signed in, NearWord translates words in context. It analyzes the surrounding text captured by OCR to give you a relevant translation and description.

Free accounts get 300 welcome credits and 5 Context lookups per day. Pro subscribers get unlimited Context with fair-use protection.

Privacy note: When using contextual translation, the captured text around your cursor is sent to our server for translation. No other personal data is transmitted.

Settings

NearWord supports Light, Dark, and System themes (follows your OS setting). Configure in the Settings tab.

Hotkey

NearWord uses a global keyboard shortcut to trigger lookups:

ActionShortcut
Look up word⌥ + ⇧ + S
Dismiss overlayEsc
Copy word⌘ + C
Copy definition⌘ + ⇧ + C

Dictionaries

Manage which dictionary sources NearWord uses for lookups:

  • Enable/disable sources: Toggle dictionary sources on or off (macOS built-in, API dictionaries)
  • Individual dictionaries: Within each source, enable or disable specific dictionaries

Learning

NearWord is utility-first: look up instantly, save useful terms, and review later when you have time.

Review from History

Every lookup can be revisited from your local history list. This lets you build a lightweight learning loop without leaving your main workflow.

  • Capture in context: Save terms while reading, gaming, or watching
  • Review later: Re-open definitions and examples when you are ready
  • Keep control: History remains on your device by default

Export Later

Export workflows, including Anki-oriented flows, are planned. Today, NearWord focuses on instant lookup and local history review.

Status: Export and spaced-repetition integrations are on the roadmap and will be documented here as they ship.

Coming Soon

These features are on our roadmap:

  • Spaced repetition — SM-2 based review system for learned words
  • Anki export — Export your vocabulary to Anki for spaced repetition review
  • Data export — Export your history as JSON or CSV
  • Custom hotkey — Choose your own keyboard shortcut
  • Windows and Linux — arm64 and x64 builds
  • Bring-your-own-key — Use your own AI API key
  • Device sync — Sync vocabulary across devices

FAQ

Why isn't NearWord detecting text?

Make sure NearWord has Accessibility permissions on macOS (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility). Try toggling the permission off and on, then restart NearWord.

Can I use NearWord offline?

Yes. The local dictionary and OCR work offline. Context lookups and some dictionary lookups require an internet connection.

Where does NearWord get definitions from?

NearWord uses a combination of local dictionaries (macOS built-in) and online dictionary APIs. You can configure which sources to use in Settings.

Is my data secure?

By default, your vocabulary data is stored locally on your device. We don't have access to your word collection or learning progress. See our Privacy Policy for details.

How do I completely uninstall NearWord?

Uninstall NearWord using your operating system's normal uninstall flow. To remove local data, delete the NearWord data folder from your home directory.