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 man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
apart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
asteroid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
blast-off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
busy and excited activity
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
chattering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
competition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
crowded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
drifter-families
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
fairgrounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
fast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
frantically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
friendly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
Gramps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
invisible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
Jerry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
knots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
legs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
Like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
meaningless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
mob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
runningnounUS /ˈrunning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
spindly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
thousands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
thronged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
tomorrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
uncertainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man could walk around the tiny asteroid in the space of a few hours.
waving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
weapon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Jerry had only minutes, to find and use--an invisible weapon!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Like I expected, the fairgrounds were crowded with thousands of the drifter-families waiting for the big blast-off tomorrow.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They thronged about uncertainly, in anxious little knots, chattering friendly, meaningless things, making fast friends who would be forgotten in the bustle and competition, after blast-off.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gramps stood apart from all this, and when he saw me he came running through the mob on spindly legs, waving his arms frantically so that I wouldn't miss him.
