examine
verb (used with object)
to inspect or scrutinize carefully.
were examining
-
past progressiveof examine.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 group were examining records of thousands of brains used in research by the Germans, trying to identify all the subjects and commemorate them properly.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
Investigators were examining the scene, while dogs, drones, and helicopters were involved in the search "for one or more potential perpetrators", it said.
From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026
Pilloud said investigators were examining the installation of acoustic foam at the venue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
The researchers noticed RetroMyelin's role in myelin production when they were examining the gene networks utilized by oligodendrocytes, the cells that produce myelin in the central nervous system.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 15, 2024
She stopped moving, and turned, and stared at him, as if she were examining something quite unpleasant a very long way away.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
