order
noun
was ordering
-
past progressiveof order.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.
Capt. Zefanus Waruwu was ordering his nine fellow Indonesian crew to sing, jog and do push-ups on deck, “to keep motivation up,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
I asked like I was ordering a pizza.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026
She left partly because she was ordering a lot of tests that seemed like overkill.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2025
Despite the club’s name, the crowd was a mix of well-heeled men and women who, before the talk started, loosely gathered around the seating area and bar, though almost no one was ordering drinks.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2025
I know they went through seventeen gallons of salve in the first two weeks, and that Mother was ordering gauze in bulk.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
