crawl
verb (used without object)
to move in a prone position with the body resting on or close to the ground, as a worm or caterpillar, or on the hands and knees, as a young child.
were crawling
-
past progressiveof crawl.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.
"We were crawling on the ground," she recalls, holding her one-year-old son close.
From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2025
“My mom was like, ‘You were crawling around in a bateau in 1988,’ ” Smith says.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 10, 2022
The judge noted that rioters were crawling in through broken windows when Chansley entered the Capitol through a door.
From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2021
I couldn't sit still; had to pace the floor; felt as though things were crawling on my arms and legs.
From New York Times ● Mar. 10, 2017
She felt like a thousand ants were crawling up her back.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
