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 AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
bell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I rang the bell for the valet and sprang out of bed.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why didn't you call me this morning?"
clatter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/
an open area surrounded by the walls of a building
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why didn't you call me this morning?"
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I rang the bell for the valet and sprang out of bed.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
headache
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
mantelpiece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Why didn't you call me this morning?"
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Why didn't you call me this morning?"
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I rang the bell for the valet and sprang out of bed.
rang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I rang the bell for the valet and sprang out of bed.
re-formed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
realized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
roar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
Slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
splitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
sprang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I rang the bell for the valet and sprang out of bed.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
striking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Slowly I realized that it was three o'clock in the afternoon; the events of the night before re-formed themselves in my mind.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Why didn't you call me this morning?"
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
traffic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
UNEXPECTED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
unrefreshed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
valet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I rang the bell for the valet and sprang out of bed.
vehicles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
VISITOR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The clock on the mantelpiece was striking three o'clock; from below I could hear the clatter of vehicles in the courtyard, and the distant roar of traffic from the streets beyond.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why didn't you call me this morning?"
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR I sat up in bed, heavy, unrefreshed, and with a splitting headache.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why didn't you call me this morning?"
