clean
adjective
free from dirt; unsoiled; unstained.
were cleaning
-
past progressiveof clean.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.
Sanitation workers were cleaning the area, cutting down trees, and erecting a new fence and lock to keep out trespassers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
It also reported its teams were cleaning up 18 reported spills from an estimated 60 bunkering points.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
Workers at Catalyst Refiners Inc. in Institute, W.Va., were cleaning and decontaminating a metal processing site—in preparation for closing it down—when a chemical reaction created dangerous hydrogen sulfide gas around 9:30 a.m.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
Outside, Minneapolitans were cleaning up the gas canisters ICE had left behind and hugging each other.
From Slate ● Jan. 25, 2026
When they arrived in the City, the merchant dropped her off at the Square, where a dozen men and women were cleaning up the remains of the bonfire from the night before.
From "Ash" by Malinda Lo
