A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Convincing individuals of this, particularly those personally affected like the petitioning New Yorkers, will be the hardest part of moving forward.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026
Cherneff: Almost immediately after emancipation in Maryland, there were reports of parents petitioning for the freedom of their children.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Alison Fure, 68, is petitioning Kingston Council to begin phasing out plastic decorative items, including ornaments, flowers, and windmills, on graves.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
Constellation is petitioning the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to bypass that delay.
From Barron's ● May 11, 2026
Imagine, Alvin Hooks implored the jurors, leaning toward them with his hands outstretched like a man petitioning God— imagine this good man stopping to help his enemy in the middle of the night at sea.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
