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Toolbar Help

Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions, organized by topic:

System Requirements

Why are the system requirements so strict?

The Merriam-Webster Online Toolbar is powered by ActiveX technology, which currently is supported only by Microsoft Windows operating systems (95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, and XP) and Internet Explorer 5.0 and higher.

The Toolbar cannot be installed into the AOL browser or Netscape.

Locating the Toolbar

I can't find the Toolbar. Where is it?

The Toolbar displays below the standard IE buttons and address bar immediately after installation. If the toolbar does not display:

  1. Close Internet Explorer (IE) and open a new IE window.

-- or --

  1. Click on View in the menu bar at the top of the IE window.
  2. Click on Toolbars in the drop-down menu.
  3. If "Merriam-Webster Online" isn't checked, click on it.
  4. If "Merriam-Webster Online" is checked, click on it to uncheck it, then click it again. A check mark should appear next to it.

The Merriam-Webster Online Toolbar installed

Attention IE 5.0 users:

With IE 5.0, toolbar add-ons appear with the name "Radio" in the View/Toolbars menu.

  • If the Merriam-Webster Online Toolbar is the first toolbar add-on you have installed, then the second "Radio" listed in View/Toolbars corresponds to it.
  • If you have other toolbars installed, then the last "Radio" listed corresponds to the Merriam-Webster Online Toolbar.

What if I can't see the entire Toolbar?

See Moving the Toolbar or Resizing the Toolbar.

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Moving the Toolbar

How do I move the Toolbar?

  1. Move your cursor to the vertical separator bar just to the left of the Merriam-Webster logo. The cursor will become two vertical lines with arrows on either side.
  2. Click the left mouse button and hold it down.
  3. Drag the mouse to where you want the Toolbar to be positioned.

Why can't I move the Toolbar?

If you are using Internet Explorer 6, you probably have the "Lock the Toolbars" option selected. To deselect this option:

  1. Click on View in the menu bar at the top of the Internet Explorer (IE) window.
  2. Click on Toolbars in the drop-down menu.
  3. Click "Lock the Toolbars" if it is checked.

How do I hide the Toolbar?

  1. Click on View in the menu bar at the top of the IE window.
  2. Click on Toolbars in the drop-down menu.
  3. Click on "Merriam-Webster Online."

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Resizing the Toolbar

How do I change the length of the Toolbar?

  1. Move your cursor to the vertical separator bar just to the left of the Merriam-Webster logo. The cursor will become a horizontal line with arrows on either end.
  2. Click the left mouse button and hold it down.
  3. Drag the mouse right or left until the Toolbar becomes the desired length.

Why can't I resize the Toolbar?

If you are using Internet Explorer 6, you probably have the "Lock the Toolbars" option selected. To deselect this option:

  1. Click on View in the menu bar at the top of the Internet Explorer (IE) window.
  2. Click on Toolbars in the drop-down menu.
  3. If "Lock the Toolbars" is checked, click on it to uncheck it.

How do I resize the Toolbar search box?

To lengthen or shorten the Toolbar search box (white box where you type your search term):

  1. Move your cursor to the far right boundary of the white search box, to the right of the Search History drop-down arrow. The cursor will become a diagonal line with arrows on either end.
  2. Click the left mouse button and hold it down.
  3. Drag the mouse right or left until the search box becomes the desired length.

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Using the References

How do I look up a word in one of the references?

  • Search Box Method:

    Enter a word into the search box, then click on button that corresponds to the desired reference. You can also hit the "enter" key after entering a word into the search box.

    Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary Button Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus Button
  • Highlight Method

    1. Highlight or double-click on a word in a Web page.
    2. Click on the button for the reference you'd like to search.
  • Right-click Method

    1. Highlight or double-click on a word in a Web page.
    2. Right-click on the selected word.
    3. Click on the name of the reference you'd like to search.

How do I view a previously looked-up word?

  1. Click on the arrow to the right of the search box to display a search history (a menu of words previously searched).

    Search History Arrow
  2. Click on the desired term, then click on the button for the reference you'd like to search.
  3. See below for erasing search history.

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Google Toolbar Compatibility

I installed the most recent version of the Google™ Toolbar and now my Merriam-Webster Toolbar won't function properly. What can I do?

The latest version of the Google Toolbar includes a "pop-up blocker" feature that prevents pop-up windows from opening. If you have the Merriam-Webster Toolbar configured to display the results in a new window, the Google Toolbar will prevent the results window from opening and may cause your browser to close. To work around this problem, you can do one of two things:

Disable the Google Pop-up Blocker:

  1. Click on the Google button on the Google Toolbar.
  2. Select Toolbar Options.
  3. Uncheck Pop-up Blocker.

-- or --

Configure the Merriam-Webster Toolbar to display results in current window:

  1. Click on the Merriam-Webster button on the Merriam-Webster Toolbar.
  2. Select Display in Current Window.

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Toolbar Options

What options are available?

  • Search results displayed in current or new browser window
  • Choice of which buttons display
  • Buttons shown with or without text labels

How do I select these options?

To view the Toolbar options menu, click on the Merriam-Webster logo.

Toolbar Options Menu

How do I display or hide a button?

  1. Click the Merriam-Webster button.
  2. Click the name of the button you would like to display.
  3. A check mark next to an item indicates that it will be displayed; clicking it again will uncheck it and it will not be displayed.

How do I display or hide the words next to the buttons?

  1. Click the Merriam-Webster button.
  2. Click Display Buttons Only.
  3. A bullet appears next to the option selected.

If you want the words next to the buttons to display, choose "Display Buttons with Text."

How do I make the search results open in the current window or in a new window?

  1. Click the Merriam-Webster button.
  2. Click Display in Current Window or Display in New Window.
  3. A bullet appears next to the option selected.

If your selection does not take effect immediately, close and reopen your browser.

How do I erase the Search History?

  1. Click the Merriam-Webster button.
  2. Click Clear Search History.

This will clear the history associated with the Merriam-Webster Online Toolbar. It will not affect your general Internet Explorer history.

Features of the Toolbar Options Menu

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Word of the Day

How do I read the Word of the Day?

  1. Click the calendar button on the Toolbar.
  2. The Word of the Day found on Merriam-Webster Online will open.

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Installing and Uninstalling the Toolbar

How do I install the Toolbar?

  1. Close all other IE windows.
  2. Click here to begin installation: Install Now.
  3. Click "Yes" in the security dialog box.

How do I uninstall the Toolbar?

  1. Close all other IE windows.
  2. Click the Merriam-Webster button to open the Toolbar options menu.
  3. Click on Uninstall.
  4. Click "OK" in the uninstall dialog box.

-- or --

  1. Navigate to Control Panel in Windows.
  2. Choose Add or Remove Programs.
  3. Scroll to "Merriam-Webster Online Toolbar."
  4. Click on it, then choose Remove.

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Technical Support

If you have other questions about the Merriam-Webster Online Toolbar, contact us by using the Web Site Support form. Please include the following:

  • Toolbar version number
  • Names of other toolbars you have installed

Find out which version of IE you have:

  1. Click on Help in the menu bar at the top of the IE window.
  2. Click on About Internet Explorer.
  3. Look for the large number after the word "Version." Note the first two digits.

Find out which version of the Toolbar you have:

  1. Click the Merriam-Webster button on the Toolbar.
  2. Scroll down to About the Merriam-Webster Toolbar... and click on it.
  3. Look for the two-digit number preceded by "V."

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