claw
noun
a sharp, usually curved, nail on the foot of an animal, as on a cat, dog, or bird.
were clawing
-
past progressiveof claw.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 benchmarks were clawing back their losses from Monday as fresh strikes by Israel and Iran fueled traders’ fears about disruption of crude flows out of the Middle East.
From Barron's ● Mar. 17, 2026
The Spurs led 86-70 going into the fourth but the Blazers were clawing back in it.
From Fox News ● Dec. 3, 2021
Tucker’s voice is too distinctive, a reminder of how raw and galvanizing Sleater-Kinney has been, and how so many of its songs have felt like they were clawing their way into existence on the spot.
From New York Times ● Aug. 14, 2019
Austin Roberts was the most-targeted tight end against the Aggies, finishing with five catches for 61 yards, but he also had a critical drop while the Bruins were clawing back into the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2016
Anya ran back to where Ivan and Håkon were clawing and kicking a large hole in the barn wall to escape out of.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
