compliment
noun
an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration.
were complimenting
-
past progressiveof compliment.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.
Now, she could eat whatever she wanted, just in smaller portions, and people were complimenting her looks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
At the convention, she said many people were complimenting her on the shirt.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2024
They didn’t realize they were complimenting me when they yelled out “Freedom Rider.”
From The New Yorker ● Nov. 13, 2015
Since sarcasm doesn’t translate well in messages, I wanted to make sure you were complimenting basketball reporters.
From New York Times ● May 18, 2011
I started over to her not knowing what I might say when my father intercepted me and said smiling in Korean, as if he were complimenting me, “She’s a steady customer.”
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
