animate
verb (used with object)
to give life to; make alive.
were animating
-
past progressiveof animate.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.
He gave but expression to the feelings which were animating the breasts of his companions.
From The Three Commanders by Dugdale, Thomas Cantrell
Several young girls were animating the scene by the variety of their expressions, their attitudes, and the differences in their toilets.
From Vendetta by Wormeley, Katharine Prescott
Family fealty, the eager desire to right in some measure the wrong done by her father, anxious determination to repair her own fault—all these were animating impulses in this Joan of the Northland.
From Joan of Arc of the North Woods by Day, Holman
Thus, the unconsciousness of muscular action on the part of savages engaged in the experiment with sticks would lead them to believe that spirits were animating the wood.
From The Making of Religion by Lang, Andrew
