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 A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
approach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
attempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "I can show you the tracks."
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
closet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
desperate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I can show you the tracks."
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
kill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
knob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
likely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the man of the sneer said: "That's a likely story!"
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the man of the sneer said: "That's a likely story!"
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
pause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
pressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
Ronicky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the man of the sneer said: "That's a likely story!"
shoot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can show you the tracks."
silks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
smooth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
sneer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the man of the sneer said: "That's a likely story!"
stepped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the man of the sneer said: "That's a likely story!"
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the man of the sneer said: "That's a likely story!"
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the man of the sneer said: "That's a likely story!"
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ronicky stepped from among the smooth silks and pressed close to the door of the closet, his hand on the knob.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
tracks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can show you the tracks."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The time had almost come for one desperate attempt to escape, and he was ready to shoot to kill.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A moment of pause had come, a pause which, in the imagination of Ronicky, was filled with the approach of both the men toward the door of the closet.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I can show you the tracks."