Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
began
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
branch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
BUILDING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUILDING THE DAM.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
channel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
chose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
compensated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
DAM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BUILDING THE DAM.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
entailed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
exertions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
extra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
great
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
greater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
hoped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
little
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
morning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
next
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
persevere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
reap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
reward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
selected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
shallow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
shallower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BUILDING THE DAM.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
thought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work was very heavy, and only the thought of the great reward they hoped to reap from their exertions could have made them persevere in it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
wider
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
width
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They selected this place for the reason that it was much less difficult to work in shallow water than in deep, and this fact more than compensated them for the extra work entailed upon them by the greater width of the stream.
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They chose a place a little way below the branch channel into which they wished to turn the water, where the stream was rather wider than it was lower down, but where also it was shallower.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next morning, almost as soon as it was light, the boys began the serious work of building the dam across the stream.
