crawl
verb (used without object)
to move in a prone position with the body resting on or close to the ground, as a worm or caterpillar, or on the hands and knees, as a young child.
was crawling
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past progressiveof crawl.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.
"He was crawling down," Pemba Sherpa of 8K Expeditions, which was overseeing search and rescue efforts, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026
“I’m a Method actor, so I was crawling around the floor,” he jokes, before adding, “If I was a cat, I would probably act like Armando.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026
To watch the video captured by the track’s cameras and shared with me in a glossy digital package, I was crawling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2025
"I was crawling under stuff like railings and school bags and stuff. It was on its side in the field."
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2024
The place was crawling with soldiers and FBI agents.
From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin
