spring
verb (used without object)
to rise, leap, move, or act suddenly and swiftly, as by a sudden dart or thrust forward or outward, or being suddenly released from a coiled or constrained position.
was springing
-
past progressiveof spring.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.
Next door, an even higher-security prison was springing up: the super-max “Alcatraz of the Rockies” for terrorists, mob bosses, drug lords and other dangerous felons.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 9, 2022
To our right, beyond the ridge, the high-modernist future of international commerce was springing up out of the ground.
From New York Times ● Jan. 30, 2019
Hanks’s research trip makes perfect sense in this light: the actor wanted to see the circumstances from which his lawyer character, Donovan, was springing the boys.
From Forbes ● Dec. 16, 2014
Last night, Diesel was springing about 10ft tall, showing up to the London premiere of Guardians in high-tech stilts and an "I am Groot" T-shirt.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 31, 2014
The lizard which had been in the cereal box was springing toward him.
From "Holes" by Louis Sachar
