congratulate
verb (used with object)
to express pleasure to (a person), as on a happy occasion.
were congratulating
-
past progressiveof congratulate.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.
“It was awesome support from those guys. They were congratulating me and they all knew what was happening. Everyone was happy for me.”
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 31, 2022
In large measure, it worked, and by the early 2000s, countries were congratulating themselves for having won the war.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 13, 2022
For stopping shy of $25 billion, they were congratulating themselves. Why are you hitting your head with that hammer?
From Slate ● Nov. 22, 2013
“Suleimani completely outmaneuvered them, and in public they were congratulating themselves for putting the government together.”
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 23, 2013
Then people were congratulating me and slapping me on the back.
From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm
