drain
verb (used with object)
to withdraw or draw off (a liquid) gradually; remove slowly or by degrees, as by filtration.
was draining
-
past progressiveof drain.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.
The Vietnam War was draining federal coffers, forcing Lyndon Johnson to balance military spending with domestic programs like the Great Society.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025
Brian Bethune, an economist at Boston College, said the shutdown was draining the flow of liquidity in the economy.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2025
It added the insolvency caused it to lose £5.5m and that Keith's personal spending was draining the company of money.
From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2025
Piro said he never got the sense that the emotional challenge of the divorce was draining her ability to continue to fight “on the medical side.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2024
Even with her dark skin, he could see the blood was draining from her face, and she looked weaker and weaker by the second.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
