defy
verb (used with object)
to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly.
was defying
-
past progressiveof defy.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.
On the floor, a 44-year-old man was defying the thump of a heavy landing to bounce back up.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2025
“The funny thing was girls watched it, but probably not in as big numbers as boys did. Girls bought the merchandise, boys didn’t. Here is a show that was defying logic,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 17, 2023
Until then, the extent of his right-wing activism was defying indoor mask requirements at his local Fred Meyer store, he said in the chat.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 19, 2022
Stuart Scheller, a combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, testified that he knew he was defying orders and that his life began “spiraling” down after he posted his first video in August.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 14, 2021
I didn’t know what or whom he was defying.
From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini
