justify
verb (used with object)
to show (an act, claim, statement, etc.) to be just or right.
was justifying
-
past progressiveof justify.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 incident happened part way through a prime-time interview on Wednesday, when Mr Macron was justifying his reasons for lifting the pension age.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2023
I was always looking for ways that she was justifying what happened to herself, and there’s one quote from her lawyer’s opening argument in her trial: “Failure is not a crime.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2022
Soon Talon Anvil was justifying nearly every strike as defensive.
From New York Times ● Dec. 12, 2021
I don’t know what was in his mind, maybe it was justifying himself: ‘Oh, I said you were great because maybe before I said something else.’
From The Guardian ● Aug. 18, 2017
His beloved camera was justifying itself once more.
From Malcolm Sage, Detective by Herbert George Jenkins
