Microsoft kills off Smart Lookup feature in Word as it pushes Copilot

I sometimes used the Smart Lookup feature in Microsoft Word to look up words and phrases in a document. It was a helpful way to view dictionary definitions, synonyms, web searches, and Wikipedia articles on a subject. Well, what Microsoft giveth, they now taketh away, for Smart Lookup is no more.

Microsoft retires a helpful feature

In a support document on Smart Lookup spotted by Windows Latest, Microsoft reveals that the feature has been retired as of Jan. 1, 2025. In the past, right-clicking on certain words in Microsoft Word displayed a “Search” command in the menu. Selecting that command would run an online search to help you learn more about the word you selected.

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The “Search” option still exists, and selecting it still opens the Search pane on the right. But instead of running an actual search, Word just tells you that something went wrong and advises you to please try again. Of course, trying again just results in the same error. It seems Microsoft can’t even properly remove a feature like this without creating confusion.

Is Copilot to blame?

Why would the company retire such a useful and helpful option? I can answer that with one word: Copilot. Microsoft has aggressively been pushing its AI tool to customers as the one-stop solution to all their questions and requests. So why keep a feature like Smart Lookup around when Copilot is here to save the day?

Copilot has already been available as standalone Windows and Mac programs, as mobile apps for iOS and Android, and as a sidebar in Edge. But Microsoft recently went a step further by forcing Copilot into its Microsoft 365 suite. Those of you who subscribe to Microsoft 365 Family or Personal will now notice a Copilot icon in the left margin, accompanied by an annoying message to “Draft with Copilot.”

Also: The Microsoft 365 Copilot launch was a total disaster

With the new Copilot feature comes an unexpected price increase that will kick in at your next renewal date US subscribers to Microsoft 365 Personal will end up paying $99.99 per year or $9.99 per month, up from $69.99 per year or $6.99 per month. Subscribers to Microsoft 365 Family will eventually have to shell out $129.99 per year or $12.99 per month, up from $99.99 per year or $9.99 per month.

You can remove Copilot from Word and switch back to a classic non-Copilot plan, though Microsoft doesn’t make it easy. Otherwise, I’m sure the company is hoping that removing tools like Smart Lookup will cause more people to keep Copilot and turn to the AI when they need help in a document.