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:
Close Internet Explorer (IE) and open a new IE window.
-- or --
Click on View in the menu bar at the top of the IE window.
Click on Toolbars in the drop-down menu.
If "Merriam-Webster Online" isn't checked, click on it.
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.
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.
Click the left mouse button and hold it down.
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:
Click on View in the menu bar at the top of the Internet Explorer (IE) window.
Click on Toolbars in the drop-down menu.
Click "Lock the Toolbars" if it is checked.
How do I hide the Toolbar?
Click on View in the menu bar at the top of the IE window.
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.
Click the left mouse button and hold it down.
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:
Click on View in the menu bar at the top of the Internet Explorer (IE) window.
Click on Toolbars in the drop-down menu.
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):
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.
Click the left mouse button and hold it down.
Drag the mouse right or left until the search box becomes the desired length.
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.
Highlight Method
Highlight or double-click on a word in a Web page.
Click on the button for the reference you'd like to search.
Right-click Method
Highlight or double-click on a word in a Web page.
Right-click on the selected word.
Click on the name of the reference you'd like to search.
How do I view a previously looked-up word?
Click on the arrow to the right of the search box to display a search history (a menu of words
previously searched).
Click on the desired term, then click on the button for the reference you'd like to search.
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:
Click on the Google button on the Google Toolbar.
Select Toolbar Options.
Uncheck Pop-up Blocker.
-- or --
Configure the Merriam-Webster Toolbar to display results in current window:
Click on the Merriam-Webster button on the Merriam-Webster Toolbar.