collect
verb (used with object)
to gather together; assemble.
were collecting
-
past progressiveof collect.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 area we were collecting in is karst, so it's made of sharp, edgy limestone, and it's lost all of its natural soils," Riegler said.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 3, 2026
At the start, Mr Katuwawala and his fellow volunteers "were collecting like 300-400 kilos of nurdles" each day.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2025
"Before industrial action began, our crews were collecting about 1,000 to 1,100 tonnes of waste per day," the local authority's website reads.
From BBC ● May 11, 2025
Two years ago, U.S. intelligence officials issued a bulletin stating that the Chinese were collecting information about local officials.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2024
Various missing-persons agencies were collecting information and trying to connect those separated from their families.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
