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 One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
Buck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
calves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
disadvantage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
drive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy.
experience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
farm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
fun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
Gee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
glorious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
lash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
needs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
oxen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
practice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
requires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
restrictions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy.
shouting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
swinging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
uneasy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
whip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting “Gee, Buck!”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy.
yoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun.
