spin
verb (used with object)
to make (yarn) by drawing out, twisting, and winding fibers.
was spinning
-
past progressiveof spin.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.
New research from astrophysicists at Syracuse University suggests that a previously underappreciated property of the star could provide the answer: how rapidly it was spinning before its first close encounter with the black hole.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026
He stood alone on top of a giant dome, far from the crowd, while lights made it appear like a planet was spinning under his feet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026
"It is one of the great knocks as it wasn't easy. The ball was spinning and some were going straight under the lights. It was a challenge."
From Barron's ● Feb. 15, 2026
"I saw the doctor on Monday – on the following Thursday I had mammography and a biopsy and from then on it went so quickly my head was spinning, almost."
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2025
About 200 miles from Otsuchi, the nuclear plant’s operators spent the night of the tsunami working frantically in pitch-black control rooms desperately trying to stop a chain reaction that was spinning out of control.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
