PDF Editing Issues

How to Look Up Words and Highlight Text in Adobe Acrobat on iPad

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to look up word definitions and highlight text in Adobe Acrobat on an iPad without the highlights automatically saving as comment annotations.

How to Look Up Words and Highlight Text in Adobe Acrobat on iPad

Product: Adobe Acrobat
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Reading, studying, or reviewing PDF documents on an iPad.
Observed behavior: When highlighting text in Acrobat for iPad, the action utilizes the commenting tools and permanently records the highlight as an annotation in the Comments panel, which the user wishes to avoid.

Before you start

Ensure your iPadOS is updated to the latest version, as the dictionary and 'Look Up' functionalities rely directly on Apple's system-wide features rather than Acrobat itself.

Solution 1Recommended

Use iPadOS Look Up and Acrobat Comment Highlighting

Access the built-in dictionary for word definitions and properly use the Acrobat highlight tool, keeping in mind the app's structural limitations regarding comments.

In Adobe Acrobat for iPad, the highlighter functions strictly as a commenting and collaboration tool. Because of this design, there is currently no way to highlight text without it generating a corresponding entry in the Comments panel.

Word definitions, however, are handled seamlessly by iPadOS's native dictionary feature.

Select text to define

Tap and hold on a specific word in your PDF document until the text selection anchors appear.

Use the Look Up tool

From the black pop-up context menu that appears above the selected text, tap on 'Look Up' to view the dictionary definition.

Highlight the text

To mark the text, either select 'Highlight' directly from the pop-up context menu, or tap the Pencil icon at the bottom of the screen to enter Comment mode and choose the Highlighter tool.

Manage your highlights

To view or delete your highlighted sections, open the 'Comments' panel from the top menu bar, where all your highlights are securely tracked.

Use iPadOS Look Up and Acrobat Comment Highlighting

Highlighting Limitation: Because highlighting is deeply integrated into Acrobat's collaboration features, there is no separate 'read-only' highlight mode. Every highlight will automatically appear as a comment annotation.

Seamless PDF Annotation

Highlight and Annotate PDFs Effortlessly with WPS Office

If you find Adobe Acrobat's mandatory commenting system too cluttered for simple reading, WPS Office offers a powerful, intuitive PDF reader and editor for your iPad. It allows you to highlight text smoothly and naturally without forcing complex collaborative annotations.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the App Store on your iPad.
2. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office, navigate to your files, and open the PDF document you want to read.
3. Access annotation tools: Tap on the 'Tools' menu at the bottom or top of the screen and navigate to the 'Annotation' tab.
4. Highlight text seamlessly: Select the Highlight tool, pick your preferred color, and simply drag your finger or Apple Pencil across the text.
5. Save your document: Tap 'Save' or 'Done' to embed your highlights into the PDF seamlessly.

Easily highlight, underline, and add freehand drawings to your PDFs.Fully compatible with standard PDF formats and Adobe Acrobat files.Lightweight iPad app with an interface optimized for reading and studying.Built-in dictionary and iOS Look Up functions integrate perfectly.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide the comments panel when reading highlighted PDFs in Acrobat on iPad?

While you cannot completely disable the highlight comments from being generated, you can close or collapse the Comments panel while reading to maximize your screen space and minimize visual distractions.

Why does Adobe Acrobat force my highlights to be comments?

Adobe Acrobat treats highlighting as an active annotation tool designed for team collaboration. By saving it as a comment, it allows multiple users to reply, resolve, or review the highlighted sections together.

Is the 'Look Up' dictionary feature an Adobe tool?

No, the 'Look Up' feature is built natively into iPadOS by Apple. When you highlight a word in Acrobat and select 'Look Up', it calls upon Apple's system-wide dictionary rather than a specific Adobe plugin.

How do I change the highlight color in Acrobat for iPad?

Tap directly on the text you have already highlighted. A quick menu will appear above it; tap on the color circle icon to select a different highlight color from the provided palette.

PDF Troubleshooting