Sandcastles stood tall, defying the incoming tide.

Meaning: The sandcastles remained upright and strong, even as the tide was coming in and threatening to wash them away.

Choice of Words: Sandcastles are structures built from sand, usually by children at the beach. Stood means to be in an upright position. Tall means of great height. Defying means to resist or oppose something. Incoming means arriving or approaching. Tide is the rising and falling of the sea level.

Alternative Expressions

The sandcastles remained standing, even though the tide was coming in.

Meaning: This means the same as the first example. The sandcastles were not being knocked down by the waves coming in from the ocean.

Choice of Words: Sandcastles are structures made from sand, usually built on the beach. Remained means to continue to be in the same state or place. Standing means to be upright or in an erect position. Even though means despite or in spite of something. Tide refers to the rise and fall of the sea level. Coming in means to approach or move towards. When you put them together, this sentence describes sandcastles that stayed upright even though the tide was coming in.

Despite the incoming tide, the sandcastles held their ground.

Meaning: This means the same as the first two examples. The sandcastles were not being knocked down by the waves coming in from the ocean.

Choice of Words: Despite means in spite of or notwithstanding something. Incoming means to come or approach. Tide refers to the rise and fall of the sea level. Sandcastles are structures made from sand, usually built on the beach. Held means to keep or maintain something in a particular position or state. Ground refers to the surface of the earth or the area on which something is situated. When you put them together, this sentence describes how the sandcastles were able to stay standing even though the tide was coming in.

Related Expressions