decompose
verb (used with object)
to separate or resolve into constituent parts or elements; disintegrate.
were decomposing
-
past progressiveof decompose.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.
The rafts were decomposing in the sun, bleeding vivid yellow dye on to the men's clothing and skin and making everything sticky.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 16, 2011
This one’s stainless steel facade has been peeled back, exposing its innards as if it were decomposing from the inside out.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
The hard, sun-baked clods were decomposing, the crevices between drinking the wet with an eager, sucking noise.
From The Octopus : A story of California by Frank Norris
But for seven weeks the nitrate route had been closed while the chemical reactions on the Marne and Yser were decomposing nitrogen-compounds at an unheard of rate.
From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Edwin E. Slosson
