fan
noun
any device for producing a current of air by the movement of a broad surface or a number of such surfaces.
were fanning
-
past progressiveof fan.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.
In Greece, firefighters battled a blaze on the Aegean island of Paros, where strong winds were fanning the flames.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Others at the venue were fanning themselves with hand-held paper fans handed out by delegations from various countries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
Across the border in Turkey’s Canakkale province, strong winds were fanning a wildfire for a second day.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 23, 2023
In the driveway of one house, three very old ladies, one on a cot, were fanning themselves.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2023
The two women were fanning themselves and watching Hannah put down some dough, all talking casually about one thing and another, and had gotten around, when Sula passed by, to the problems of child rearing.
From "Sula" by Toni Morrison
