dab
verb (used with object)
to pat or tap gently, as with something soft or moist.
was dabbing
-
past progressiveof dab.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.
When the house lights rose at the end, a woman near me was dabbing tears.
From Golf Digest ● Oct. 16, 2013
The other day, Carolyn Fuchs, an exhibit specialist who studied fine arts at Connecticut College, was dabbing green and white paint — the lichen — on the trunk of an artificial buttress tree.
From New York Times ● Jul. 16, 2013
Then, describing how the Chirkinian persona came alive and gave a hard time to the makeup artist who was dabbing his forehead, Haas did an impression of the stentorian Chirkinian delivery.
From New York Times ● Mar. 5, 2011
By the time Nixon's telecast ended, Mamie was dabbing at her eyes and Ike was jumping with fight.
From Time Magazine Archive
He had his handkerchief out and was dabbing at his eyes, and I don’t think it was only great-grand-fatherly pride.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
