commence
verb (used with or without object)
were commencing
-
past progressiveof commence.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.
But the story stops just as the ’70s were commencing —meaning his relationship with Carly Simon, whom he wed in 1972, is not a part of it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 17, 2020
On Thursday, when it got about that the British Parliament had been called in special session, that Great Britain and France were commencing to mobilize in earnest, the German people began to sober down.
From Time Magazine Archive
Japanese wounded, brought all the way home from China, were commencing to arrive in trainloads at Tokyo.
From Time Magazine Archive
Fishermen were preparing to get up sail; and those who had, like themselves, come in during the night, were commencing to unload their cargoes.
From Both Sides the Border A Tale of Hotspur and Glendower by Ralph Peacock
They were commencing the difficult part of the descent, and Croz was cutting steps in the ice for the feet of Mr. Hadow, who was immediately behind him.
From Harper's Young People, February 17, 1880 An Illustrated Weekly by Various
