Microsoft quietly discontinues hidden feature in Word

Microsoft has quietly discontinued the Smart Lookup feature in Word and other Microsoft 365 applications, leaving users frustrated and without a convenient way to quickly search for word definitions within the text editor.

Quickly search for word definitions without leaving the text editor
Seamlessly integrated into Microsoft documents
Available in permanent licenses

Have you ever come across a word that you didn’t quite understand the meaning of, even with all your knowledge? Well, fear not, because Microsoft Word used to have a handy little feature called Smart Lookup that could help you out. Smart Lookup allowed users to quickly search for the definition of a word without having to leave the text editor. All you had to do was select the word, access the Word context menu, and the option to define the term would appear.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Smart Lookup may not have been the most widely used feature in Word, but it definitely had its usefulness, especially for those of us who deal with a lot of documents on a daily basis. However, it seems that Microsoft has quietly discontinued this feature. And it’s not just in Word, but also in the Microsoft 365 applications.

Here’s the thing: even though the option still shows up in the context menu, clicking on it now just opens a window telling you that the feature has been discontinued and offering a Bing search instead. Talk about a bummer!

If you head over to the support page for Smart Lookup, you’ll see that Microsoft only mentions that the feature was discontinued on January 1, 2025, without making much of a fuss about it. In fact, it’s only now that users are starting to discover this change and voice their frustrations.

Sure, you could technically use Copilot to quickly get the same definition, but let’s be honest, Smart Lookup was much simpler to use and seamlessly integrated into Microsoft documents. Plus, accessing Copilot requires a Microsoft 365 license, which, by the way, recently got more expensive in certain countries. On the other hand, the now-discontinued Smart Lookup feature was available even in permanent licenses.

It’s a shame to see a useful tool like Smart Lookup go, especially when it was something that many of us relied on for quick word definitions. But hey, at least we still have options like Copilot, even if they come at a cost.

So, the next time you stumble upon a word that leaves you scratching your head, just remember that Smart Lookup is no longer there to lend a helping hand. But fear not, my friends, for there are still ways to uncover the mysteries of language in the vast digital realm.

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Background Information

About Microsoft:

Microsoft, founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 in Redmond, Washington, USA, is a technology giant known for its wide range of software products, including the Windows operating system, Office productivity suite, and cloud services like Azure. Microsoft also manufactures hardware, such as the Surface line of laptops and tablets, Xbox gaming consoles, and accessories.