crumple
verb (used with object)
to press or crush into irregular folds or into a compact mass; bend out of shape; rumple; wrinkle.
were crumpling
-
past progressiveof crumple.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.
They were crumpling their napkins, looking at their watches, preparing to return to work.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
In Asia the Roman frontiers were crumpling back under the push of a renascent Persia.
From A Short History of the World by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Again, in a quick movement, her fingers were crumpling the lustrous coils on the crown of her head.
From The Flaming Forest by James Oliver Curwood
Meanwhile the battle cruisers were crumpling up their opposite numbers in the German line, which thus became shorter and more overlapped than ever.
From Flag and Fleet How the British Navy Won the Freedom of the Seas by William Charles Henry Wood
Peter of Blentz saw that the day was lost, for the troops upon the right were crumpling before the false king while he and his cavalrymen were yet a half mile distant.
From The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs
