sterilize
verb (used with object)
to destroy microorganisms in or on, usually by bringing to a high temperature with steam, dry heat, or boiling liquid.
was sterilizing
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past progressiveof sterilize.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.
The internal injury was sterilizing the female worms and sometimes even killing them.
From Washington Post
Mr. van Daan hadn’t gotten the jars hot enough when he was sterilizing them, so Father ended up making jam every evening.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
