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
In other words, the sale-leaseback arrangement was draining the company of cash.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2024
Ultimately the Maine Attorney General’s office intervened, asserting that the money Brannan was paying himself and several other law firms was draining the estate’s resources and threatening Indiana’s plan for preserving his legacy.
From New York Times ● May 3, 2024
I knew all the colour was draining away from my face.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
