Dictionary API
Overview
To use Dictionary, you need an API key. You can get one by creating a free account and visiting your dashboard.
GET Endpoint
https://api.apiverve.com/v1/dictionaryExample
How to call the Dictionary API in different programming languages.
curl -X GET \
"https://api.apiverve.com/v1/dictionary?word=apple" \
-H "X-API-Key: your_api_key_here"const response = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/dictionary?word=apple', {
method: 'GET',
headers: {
'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
});
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);import requests
headers = {
'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
response = requests.get('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/dictionary?word=apple', headers=headers)
data = response.json()
print(data)package main
import (
"fmt"
"io"
"net/http"
)
func main() {
req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/dictionary?word=apple", nil)
req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", "your_api_key_here")
req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
client := &http.Client{}
resp, err := client.Do(req)
if err != nil {
panic(err)
}
defer resp.Body.Close()
body, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
fmt.Println(string(body))
}{
"status": "ok",
"error": null,
"data": {
"word": "apple",
"definitionCount": 5,
"definitions": [
"The fleshy pome or fruit of a rosaceous tree (Pyrus malus) cultivated in numberless varieties in the temperate zones. Note: The European crab apple is supposed to be the original kind, from which all others have sprung.",
"(bot.) Any tree genus Pyrus which has the stalk sunken into the base of the fruit; an apple tree.",
"Any fruit or other vegetable production resembling, or supposed to resemble, the apple; as, apple of love, or love apple (a tomato), balsam apple, egg apple, oak apple.",
"Anything round like an apple; as, an apple of gold. Note: Apple is used either adjectively or in combination; as, apple paper or apple-paper, apple-shaped, apple blossom, apple dumpling, apple pudding. Apple blight, an aphid which injures apple trees. See Blight, n. -- Apple borer (Zoöl.), a coleopterous insect (Saperda candida or bivittata), the larva of which bores into the trunk of the apple tree and pear tree. -- Apple brandy, brandy made from apples. -- Apple butter, a sauce made of apples stewed down in cider. Bartlett. -- Apple corer, an instrument for removing the cores from apples. -- Apple fly (Zoöl.), any dipterous insect, the larva of which burrows in apples. Apple flies belong to the genera Drosophila and Trypeta. -- Apple midge (Zoöl.) a small dipterous insect (Sciara mali), the larva of which bores in apples. -- Apple of the eye, the pupil. -- Apple of discord, a subject of contention and envy, so called from the mythological golden apple, inscribed \"For the fairest,\" which was thrown into an assembly of the gods by Eris, the goddess of discord. It was contended for by Juno, Minerva, and Venus, and was adjudged to the latter. -- Apple of love, or Love apple, the tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum). -- Apple of Peru, a large coarse herb (Nicandra physaloides) bearing pale blue flowers, and a bladderlike fruit inclosing a dry berry. -- Apples of Sodom, a fruit described by ancient writers as externally of air appearance but dissolving into smoke and ashes plucked; Dead Sea apples. The name is often given to the fruit of Solanum Sodomæum, a prickly shrub with fruit not unlike a small yellow tomato. -- Apple sauce, stewed apples. [U. S.] -- Apple snail or Apple shell (Zoöl.), a fresh-water, operculated, spiral shell of the genus Ampullaria. -- Apple tart, a tart containing apples. -- Apple tree, a tree naturally bears apples. See Apple,",
"-- Apple wine, cider. -- Apple worm (Zoöl.), the larva of a small moth (Carpocapsa pomonella) which burrows in the interior of apples. See Codling moth. -- Dead Sea Apple. (a) pl. Apples of Sodom. Also Fig. \"To seek the Dead Sea apples of politics.\" S. B. Griffin. (b) A kind of gallnut coming from Arabia. See Gallnut. To grow like an apple; to bear apples. Holland."
]
}
}Authentication
The Dictionary API requires authentication via API key. Include your API key in the request header:
X-API-Key: your_api_key_hereInteractive API Playground
Test the Dictionary API directly in your browser with live requests and responses.
Parameters
The following parameters are available for the Dictionary API:
Get Word Definition
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | Default | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
word | string | required | The word for which you want to get the definition (e.g., apple) | - |
Response
The Dictionary API returns responses in JSON, XML, YAML, and CSV formats. The JSON response is shown in the Example section above; alternative formats below.
Other Response Formats
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<response>
<status>ok</status>
<error xsi:nil="true" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"/>
<data>
<word>apple</word>
<definitionCount>5</definitionCount>
<definitions>
<definition>The fleshy pome or fruit of a rosaceous tree (Pyrus malus) cultivated in numberless varieties in the temperate zones. Note: The European crab apple is supposed to be the original kind, from which all others have sprung.</definition>
<definition>(bot.) Any tree genus Pyrus which has the stalk sunken into the base of the fruit; an apple tree.</definition>
<definition>Any fruit or other vegetable production resembling, or supposed to resemble, the apple; as, apple of love, or love apple (a tomato), balsam apple, egg apple, oak apple.</definition>
<definition>Anything round like an apple; as, an apple of gold. Note: Apple is used either adjectively or in combination; as, apple paper or apple-paper, apple-shaped, apple blossom, apple dumpling, apple pudding. Apple blight, an aphid which injures apple trees. See Blight, n. -- Apple borer (Zoöl.), a coleopterous insect (Saperda candida or bivittata), the larva of which bores into the trunk of the apple tree and pear tree. -- Apple brandy, brandy made from apples. -- Apple butter, a sauce made of apples stewed down in cider. Bartlett. -- Apple corer, an instrument for removing the cores from apples. -- Apple fly (Zoöl.), any dipterous insect, the larva of which burrows in apples. Apple flies belong to the genera Drosophila and Trypeta. -- Apple midge (Zoöl.) a small dipterous insect (Sciara mali), the larva of which bores in apples. -- Apple of the eye, the pupil. -- Apple of discord, a subject of contention and envy, so called from the mythological golden apple, inscribed "For the fairest," which was thrown into an assembly of the gods by Eris, the goddess of discord. It was contended for by Juno, Minerva, and Venus, and was adjudged to the latter. -- Apple of love, or Love apple, the tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum). -- Apple of Peru, a large coarse herb (Nicandra physaloides) bearing pale blue flowers, and a bladderlike fruit inclosing a dry berry. -- Apples of Sodom, a fruit described by ancient writers as externally of air appearance but dissolving into smoke and ashes plucked; Dead Sea apples. The name is often given to the fruit of Solanum Sodomæum, a prickly shrub with fruit not unlike a small yellow tomato. -- Apple sauce, stewed apples. [U. S.] -- Apple snail or Apple shell (Zoöl.), a fresh-water, operculated, spiral shell of the genus Ampullaria. -- Apple tart, a tart containing apples. -- Apple tree, a tree naturally bears apples. See Apple,</definition>
<definition>-- Apple wine, cider. -- Apple worm (Zoöl.), the larva of a small moth (Carpocapsa pomonella) which burrows in the interior of apples. See Codling moth. -- Dead Sea Apple. (a) pl. Apples of Sodom. Also Fig. "To seek the Dead Sea apples of politics." S. B. Griffin. (b) A kind of gallnut coming from Arabia. See Gallnut. To grow like an apple; to bear apples. Holland.</definition>
</definitions>
</data>
</response>
status: ok
error: null
data:
word: apple
definitionCount: 5
definitions:
- >-
The fleshy pome or fruit of a rosaceous tree (Pyrus malus) cultivated in
numberless varieties in the temperate zones. Note: The European crab apple
is supposed to be the original kind, from which all others have sprung.
- >-
(bot.) Any tree genus Pyrus which has the stalk sunken into the base of
the fruit; an apple tree.
- >-
Any fruit or other vegetable production resembling, or supposed to
resemble, the apple; as, apple of love, or love apple (a tomato), balsam
apple, egg apple, oak apple.
- >-
Anything round like an apple; as, an apple of gold. Note: Apple is used
either adjectively or in combination; as, apple paper or apple-paper,
apple-shaped, apple blossom, apple dumpling, apple pudding. Apple blight,
an aphid which injures apple trees. See Blight, n. -- Apple borer (Zoöl.),
a coleopterous insect (Saperda candida or bivittata), the larva of which
bores into the trunk of the apple tree and pear tree. -- Apple brandy,
brandy made from apples. -- Apple butter, a sauce made of apples stewed
down in cider. Bartlett. -- Apple corer, an instrument for removing the
cores from apples. -- Apple fly (Zoöl.), any dipterous insect, the larva
of which burrows in apples. Apple flies belong to the genera Drosophila
and Trypeta. -- Apple midge (Zoöl.) a small dipterous insect (Sciara
mali), the larva of which bores in apples. -- Apple of the eye, the pupil.
-- Apple of discord, a subject of contention and envy, so called from the
mythological golden apple, inscribed "For the fairest," which was thrown
into an assembly of the gods by Eris, the goddess of discord. It was
contended for by Juno, Minerva, and Venus, and was adjudged to the latter.
-- Apple of love, or Love apple, the tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum). --
Apple of Peru, a large coarse herb (Nicandra physaloides) bearing pale
blue flowers, and a bladderlike fruit inclosing a dry berry. -- Apples of
Sodom, a fruit described by ancient writers as externally of air
appearance but dissolving into smoke and ashes plucked; Dead Sea apples.
The name is often given to the fruit of Solanum Sodomæum, a prickly shrub
with fruit not unlike a small yellow tomato. -- Apple sauce, stewed
apples. [U. S.] -- Apple snail or Apple shell (Zoöl.), a fresh-water,
operculated, spiral shell of the genus Ampullaria. -- Apple tart, a tart
containing apples. -- Apple tree, a tree naturally bears apples. See
Apple,
- >-
-- Apple wine, cider. -- Apple worm (Zoöl.), the larva of a small moth
(Carpocapsa pomonella) which burrows in the interior of apples. See
Codling moth. -- Dead Sea Apple. (a) pl. Apples of Sodom. Also Fig. "To
seek the Dead Sea apples of politics." S. B. Griffin. (b) A kind of
gallnut coming from Arabia. See Gallnut. To grow like an apple; to bear
apples. Holland.
| key | value |
|---|---|
| word | apple |
| definitionCount | 5 |
| definitions | [The fleshy pome or fruit of a rosaceous tree (Pyrus malus) cultivated in numberless varieties in the temperate zones. Note: The European crab apple is supposed to be the original kind, from which all others have sprung.,(bot.) Any tree genus Pyrus which has the stalk sunken into the base of the fruit; an apple tree.,Any fruit or other vegetable production resembling, or supposed to resemble, the apple; as, apple of love, or love apple (a tomato), balsam apple, egg apple, oak apple.,Anything round like an apple; as, an apple of gold. Note: Apple is used either adjectively or in combination; as, apple paper or apple-paper, apple-shaped, apple blossom, apple dumpling, apple pudding. Apple blight, an aphid which injures apple trees. See Blight, n. -- Apple borer (Zoöl.), a coleopterous insect (Saperda candida or bivittata), the larva of which bores into the trunk of the apple tree and pear tree. -- Apple brandy, brandy made from apples. -- Apple butter, a sauce made of apples stewed down in cider. Bartlett. -- Apple corer, an instrument for removing the cores from apples. -- Apple fly (Zoöl.), any dipterous insect, the larva of which burrows in apples. Apple flies belong to the genera Drosophila and Trypeta. -- Apple midge (Zoöl.) a small dipterous insect (Sciara mali), the larva of which bores in apples. -- Apple of the eye, the pupil. -- Apple of discord, a subject of contention and envy, so called from the mythological golden apple, inscribed \For the fairest,\ which was thrown into an assembly of the gods by Eris, the goddess of discord. It was contended for by Juno, Minerva, and Venus, and was adjudged to the latter. -- Apple of love, or Love apple, the tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum). -- Apple of Peru, a large coarse herb (Nicandra physaloides) bearing pale blue flowers, and a bladderlike fruit inclosing a dry berry. -- Apples of Sodom, a fruit described by ancient writers as externally of air appearance but dissolving into smoke and ashes plucked; Dead Sea apples. The name is often given to the fruit of Solanum Sodomæum, a prickly shrub with fruit not unlike a small yellow tomato. -- Apple sauce, stewed apples. [U. S.] -- Apple snail or Apple shell (Zoöl.), a fresh-water, operculated, spiral shell of the genus Ampullaria. -- Apple tart, a tart containing apples. -- Apple tree, a tree naturally bears apples. See Apple,,-- Apple wine, cider. -- Apple worm (Zoöl.), the larva of a small moth (Carpocapsa pomonella) which burrows in the interior of apples. See Codling moth. -- Dead Sea Apple. (a) pl. Apples of Sodom. Also Fig. \To seek the Dead Sea apples of politics.\ S. B. Griffin. (b) A kind of gallnut coming from Arabia. See Gallnut. To grow like an apple; to bear apples. Holland.] |
Response Structure
All API responses follow a consistent structure with the following fields:
| Field | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
status | string | Indicates whether the request was successful ("ok") or failed ("error") | ok |
error | string | null | Contains error message if status is "error", otherwise null | null |
data | object | null | Contains the API response data if successful, otherwise null | {...} |
Learn more about response formats →
Response Data Fields
When the request is successful, the data object contains the following fields:
| Field | Type | Sample Value | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
word | string | The word that was looked up in the dictionary | |
definitionCount | number | Total number of definitions found for the word | |
definitions | array | Array of definition strings for the word |
Headers
Only X-API-Key is required. Optional headers include Accept for response format negotiation (JSON, XML, or YAML), User-Agent, and X-Request-ID for request tracing. See all request headers →
GraphQL AccessALPHA
Access Dictionary through GraphQL to combine it with other API calls in a single request. Query only the dictionary data you need with precise field selection, and orchestrate complex data fetching workflows.
Credit Cost: Each API called in your GraphQL query consumes its standard credit cost.
POST https://api.apiverve.com/v1/graphqlquery {
dictionary(
input: {
word: "apple"
}
) {
word
definitionCount
definitions
}
}Note: Authentication is handled via the x-api-key header in your GraphQL request, not as a query parameter.
CORS Support
The Dictionary API accepts cross-origin requests from any origin, so it can be called directly from browser-based applications without a proxy. See CORS support →
Rate Limiting
Dictionary requests are throttled per minute on the Free plan and unthrottled on paid plans. Exceeding the limit returns 429 Too Many Requests; rate-limit usage is reported in the X-RateLimit-Limit, X-RateLimit-Remaining, and X-RateLimit-Reset response headers. See per-plan limits and best practices →
Error Codes
The Dictionary API uses standard HTTP status codes — 200 on success, 400 for invalid parameters, 401 for missing or invalid keys, 403 for insufficient credits, 429 for rate-limit exhaustion, and 500/503 for server-side issues. Each error response includes an X-Request-ID header you can quote when contacting support. See full error handling guide →
SDKs for Dictionary
Official Dictionary packages on npm, PyPI, NuGet, and JitPack — plus a Postman collection and an OpenAPI spec. See the SDK guide →
No-Code Integrations
Dictionary works with Zapier, Make, Pipedream, n8n, and Power Automate using the same API key. See setup guides →
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an API key for Dictionary?
How many credits does Dictionary cost?
Each successful Dictionary API call consumes credits based on plan tier. Check the pricing section above for the exact credit cost. Failed requests and errors don't consume credits, so you only pay for successful dictionary lookups.
Can I use Dictionary in production?
The free plan is for testing and development only. For production use of Dictionary, upgrade to a paid plan (Starter, Pro, or Mega) which includes commercial use rights, no attribution requirements, and guaranteed uptime SLAs. All paid plans are production-ready.
Can I use Dictionary from a browser?
What happens if I exceed my Dictionary credit limit?
When you reach your monthly credit limit, Dictionary API requests will return an error until you upgrade your plan or wait for the next billing cycle. You'll receive notifications at 80% and 95% usage to give you time to upgrade if needed.








