deteriorate
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become worse or inferior in condition, character, quality, value, etc.
were deteriorating
-
past progressiveof deteriorate.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.
Dan Child, chief pilot for the LAFD, was only a few hours into his shift that first day when he realized conditions were deteriorating fast.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 15, 2025
Conditions were deteriorating as the storm approached, with the worst expected overnight into early Thursday morning.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 9, 2022
On July 25, after a fire broke out there, the ministries of environment and health issued a warning that the silos were deteriorating.
From New York Times ● Aug. 4, 2022
The Cuban businessman, who like his foreign peers requested anonymity, said state companies were already working in difficult conditions before Havana's long-time ally Russia attacked Ukraine in February and those conditions were deteriorating.
From Reuters ● Apr. 18, 2022
The photo-cell banks were deteriorating more rapidly than had seemed likely.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
