This paper aims to examine qualitatively how Saudi EFL female students look-up word meanings in their dictionaries while reading. We aimed to identify and describe the look-up strategies used by these students. The subjects of the study were ten third-year English major students. A think-aloud protocol was used in order to gain insights into the detailed process of dictionary consultation while reading an English text. The results produced empirical evidence to support the claim that strategy use is indeed complex. In addition, this study showed that most students attempted a variety of strategies and the frequency of the strategies used fluctuated. Although a wide variety of strategies were used, not every strategy was used frequently. It was obvious that the participants utilized strategies that were familiar to them or that they thought were effective in retrieving the correct solution. (Contains 10 tables.)