desert
noun
a region so arid because of little rainfall that it supports only sparse and widely spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all.
were deserting
-
past progressiveof desert.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 radio intercept suggested that Russian soldiers were deserting their positions after a Ukrainian artillery bombardment.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2023
In rear areas, tens of thousands of German troops were deserting.
From The New Yorker ● Oct. 29, 2018
His campaign was broke, many on his staff were deserting him, and he was sliding in the polls.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 22, 2017
Francis is particularly struck by how Mary Magdalene stood by Jesus when other disciples were deserting him, and was the first, on Easter morning according to Scripture, to whom Jesus appeared.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 30, 2016
She gave me a stunned sort of look, as if I were deserting her, as if I didn't—care!
From The La Chance Mine Mystery by George W. Gage
