burn
verb (used without object)
to undergo rapid combustion or consume fuel in such a way as to give off heat, gases, and, usually, light; be on fire.
was burning
-
past progressiveof burn.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
The Tasha fire was burning near the Newhall Pass near Sierra Highway.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
He described believing the hot spots were cleared and the threat past, only to see the snow melting a few meters away, meaning the membrane there was burning.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
The San Bernardino County Fire Department reported the fire around 3:45 a.m., writing on social media that a single rail car was burning on the tracks near Cajon Boulevard south of Swarthout Canyon Road.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
Part of SpaceX’s spending needs stem from its February acquisition of Musk’s startup xAI, which was burning through cash as it raced to catch up with competitors and build out huge data center projects.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
“When I flew over that night the river was burning with oil, and everything on the ground was burning,” she said.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
