Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The historic administration building of Palisades Charter Elementary was largely standing, but the entirety of the school behind it was smoking rubble.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2025
“Trust in the police is below zero here,” said Sofiane, 19, who was smoking a hookah with several friends in an alleyway.
From New York Times ● Jul. 9, 2023
The front end of Rehman’s Corolla was smoking, and he pulled over as the much larger Grand Cherokee sped away, court records show.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 21, 2023
According to testimony, Lightfeather had followed another car into the car wash parking lot to inform the driver that the vehicle was smoking and apparently overheating.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 29, 2022
At age seven I’d taken this statement literally, but the headmistress in the picture was smoking a pipe, and her name was Peregrine, a kind of hawk.
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
