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.

A passenger is thought to have contracted the virus before boarding the ship in Argentina and eventually infected others on board as it sailed across the Atlantic.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

Testing to confirm whether other people on the ship have contracted the virus is ongoing.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Thousands more in the U.S. have contracted measles since.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

German exports to the U.S., which have rocketed in recent years, have contracted sharply in the past year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

“I’m fine, child. I can wait until we get to the farm. I seem to have contracted a summer grippe.”

From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson