collect
verb (used with object)
to gather together; assemble.
was collecting
-
past progressiveof collect.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.
It was during the time I was collecting footwear and I was drawn to unique footwear, especially Adidas, and at the time they were doing a collaboration with Yohji.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
"I'd seen something similar in Montana when I was collecting dinosaur fossils in 2014," he said.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 3, 2026
Ali Hossain, 40, was collecting firewood in early 2025 when a blast shattered his life.
From Barron's ● Jan. 6, 2026
While our family and countless others were struggling to find a tech-life balance, Jean Twenge was collecting data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025
He listened quietly, staring off into space, and I assumed he was collecting his thoughts for an answer, but a few minutes later he cleared his throat and shook his head.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
