Using the API too frequently/quickly
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Note: This announcement applies to API customers that are registered to a Prototype and Developer plans.
Hello all!
We are writing to inform you that a new set of plans is replacing our current application plans (Prototype and Developer plans) and prices.
As of 10th May 2022, the Prototype and Developer plans will no longer be operational. Oxford Dictionaries API will offer two new plans:
- Introductory plan
- Unlimited plan
For Prototype and Developer plan customers, changes are happening between 12th April 2022 and 10th May 2022. So do not worry! You will have time to check the options and choose how you wish to proceed using our data by selecting the Introductory or Unlimited plan.
For further instructions on how to change plans, and for more information, please visit our new plans announcement page.
Link: https://developer.oxforddictionaries.com/new-plans-announcement
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave us a comment or reach us at our Contact Us page. (https://developer.oxforddictionaries.com/contact-us)
The Oxford dictionaries API team
Using the API too frequently/quickly

If I try to use the thesaurus API for certain words it returns 404. Does this mean that the API we can use has a limited range of words? (not the oxford dictionary words?) for example I get 404 for: cuttlefish, and tentacle... Is anyone else getting this problem?
I get it even when running the API through the website at:
https://developer.oxforddictionaries.com/documentation#!/Thesaurus/get_entries_source_lang_word_id_synonyms
EDIT: I just tried again, and it worked. Does this mean that I am calling the API too quickly for multiple words?
Edit 2: I've been trying every so often, it barely ever works. Once in half an hour. Maybe the system is being overloaded? or I have a bad connection? It doesn't make sense.
Regards,
Matt
Best Answer
-
Simone Administrator admin
Hi @melliot73,
I’ve just heard back from my colleagues about your query.They’ve checked the dataset and unfortunately neither cuttlefish nor tentacle are entries on the thesaurus dictionary, hence the 404 errors.
However, it looks like you are still using the API v1, and since we have now launched v2, v1 will progressively stop working and will shut down for good on Sunday 30th June.
All v1 users will need to migrate to v2, and if you are on a FREE account, you will need to update your plan to either Prototype or Developer to get access to v2. It’s probably worth mentioning that if you need translations, sentences or thesaurus endpoints, the Prototype plan may not work for you as it gives access only to lemmas and entries.More information about our new plans is available here.
To make your migration process easy we have created a Migration Guide to give you further information about API v2 key changes and the steps you will need to take. If you have further questions, there are also some FAQs here.I hope this is helps clarify things, but of course if there is anything else you need help with, let us know!
Answers
OK, it seems like some words just aren't in en.oxforddictionaries.com/thesaurus/.
I even get 404 returns for British spellings of words like "realise". Where realize (american) would be accepted...
Hi @melliot73
Sorry for the late reply, with the recent migration to the API V2 we've had a lot more correspondence.
Are you still experiencing these difficulties?
I've forwarded your question to my colleagues in the technical team so hopefully myself or one of them should be able to get back to you - bear with us!