tempt
verb (used with object)
to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral.
was tempting
-
past progressiveof tempt.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 prospect of a partnership was tempting: She’d made the Final Four as a freshman at Stanford but played just a single minute in the Cardinal’s championship loss.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2025
The team thought the presence of the electrode was tempting some of the molecules away from where they were needed during the reaction.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 2, 2024
It was late to be having a baby—I knew I was tempting fate.
From Slate ● Nov. 26, 2023
Although it was tempting to get cozy in a new Business Premier seat, with its 24-inch entertainment screens, I wanted to try out the Skynest.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 12, 2023
The offer was tempting, but Diego’s presence would only delay my mother’s wrath, and time had a way of concentrating her anger.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
