Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
By 2020, it was cranking out thousands of tons of blueberries for Chinese supermarkets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
Iger determined that Disney was cranking out too many TV shows and made-for-streaming movies, many of which didn’t live up to the company’s high standards of quality and diluted its blockbuster franchises.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2026
After the war, the plant was cranking out 10,000 sewing machines a year, and as many 40,000 workers punched a clock there.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 5, 2024
Before long, America was cranking out its own supply of household name, superstar female gymnasts.
From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2020
So there I was cranking out words, trying to find the first dollar word of the year, when what do I hear?
From "Because of Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea
