kill
verb (used with object)
to deprive of life in any manner; cause the death of; slay.
was killing
-
past progressiveof kill.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.
Everyone in the auto industry already knew this and wondered why Tesla was killing off lucrative luxury models and not moving into potentially more profitable segments, such as larger SUVs and normal-looking pickups.
From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2026
She told her son the stress was killing her.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
At that time, it was killing people in small, mobile hunter-gatherer groups - long before farming and urban life created the crowded conditions usually associated with major plague outbreaks.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
Tyler, the Creator, the rapper who has released four straight No. 1 albums, lamented in July that the threat of constant surveillance was killing dance for his generation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 31, 2025
When she looked into the camera in that interview and begged for our safe return, I could see how much not knowing where we were or if we were even alive was killing her.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
