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pawning

  • present participle of pawn.

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.

She’s hoping to avoid pawning something or paying a bill late.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

I offended an acolyte who caught me pawning off the dessert basket she brought me to a neighbor, and insulted a coworker who’d gifted me holiday champagne by saying, “Don’t you know I don’t drink?”

From Salon • Dec. 30, 2023

Smith was tried and found guilty the following year for knowingly selling and pawning his forgeries.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2023

His path to the death chamber began in 1999 when, as an 18-year-old, he was jailed on a misdemeanor charge of pawning a rented stereo system.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 5, 2023

“NO! I’m keeping it. If you don’t want it then I’m pawning it. We have at least four or five months’ rent here.”

From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez