swab
noun
a large mop used on shipboard for cleaning decks, living quarters, etc.
had swabbed
-
past perfectof swab.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Within days, public-health officials had swabbed more than 100 animals at the pet shop and another 500 at the warehouse supplying it.
From Scientific American ● Feb. 8, 2022
During one of the governor’s daily briefings in May 2020, Dr. Dufort had swabbed Mr. Cuomo’s nose in a televised demonstration of a Covid-19 test.
From New York Times ● Nov. 22, 2021
Minutes later, everyone had swabbed their cheeks and the kits were sealed.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2018
ELLSWORTH, Maine — Richard Dever had swabbed the campground shower stalls and emptied 20 garbage cans, and now he climbed slowly onto a John Deere mower to cut a couple acres of grass.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 29, 2017
I tried to smile, but I had swabbed on so much anesthetic my lips were frozen in place like fish in a frozen pond.
From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos
