comb
noun
a toothed strip of plastic, hard rubber, bone, wood, or metal, used for arranging the hair, untangling it, or holding it in place.
were combing
-
past progressiveof comb.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.
Mayor Lisa Brown said authorities were combing the city block by block to assess damages and potential reignition, and couldn't tell people yet when they could return home.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
Many Venezuelans were combing through wreckage in search of loved ones, while others turned to social media in an effort to find relatives and friends who had vanished in the disaster.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
Police said that security agencies were "combing the forests with a view to rescue the abducted students".
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025
Beccuau said investigators were combing through extensive video footage to track the movements of the Louvre thieves, who were followed on surveillance cameras across Paris and into neighboring areas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2025
They were combing and brushing their dogs, and getting them pruned for the beauty contest.
From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls
