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were gearing
  • past progressive of gear.

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 Artemis astronauts were gearing up Saturday for their long-anticipated lunar flyby, including reviewing the surface features they must analyze and photograph during their time circling the Moon.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

The strike authorization vote came on the same day as educators in Southern California also signaled they were gearing up to head to the picket lines to demand better pay and working conditions.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026

Concern grew that authorities were gearing up to formally arrest Jin and other church leaders.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

But they were gearing up to raid the transfer portal in the aftermath of so many players leaving for the NFL.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 1, 2024

Back in Detroit, the newspaper strikers were gearing up for a huge holiday demonstration, to show the solidarity of unions against management.

From "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom