employ
verb (used with object)
to hire or engage the services of (a person or persons); provide employment for; have or keep in one's service.
were employing
-
past progressiveof employ.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.
Spurs, in turn, were employing a head coach who had operated away from the sort of harsh spotlight and high expectations that awaited him in his new job.
From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026
And it wasn’t just that companies in Scholten’s hometown were employing kids.
From Slate ● Mar. 9, 2023
Diversifying sources of raw materials was cited by 28% of firms, the same percentage who said they were employing energy and labour conservation efforts.
From Reuters ● Oct. 12, 2022
Chief Gillespie told reporters that crews were employing heavy equipment to chew through mountains of debris where they feared that people might still be trapped.
From New York Times ● Aug. 23, 2021
The other side were employing forced labour for strengthening the defence of Dudley Castle, and not improbably the Leveson tenants from Wednesfield and Willenhall were impressed to go up there equipped with spade and mattock.
From The Annals of Willenhall by Frederick William Hackwood
