grub
noun
the thick-bodied, sluggish larva of several insects, as of a scarab beetle.
were grubbing
-
past progressiveof grub.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.
They have managed only five top-seven finishes, the last being 40 years ago, and were grubbing around for points among the puddles and potholes of third-tier football as recently as 2009.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 15, 2016
And presently, while they were grubbing in the snow, one lifted up its snout and cried in a loud voice: "Co-older—and colder!"
From The Three Mulla-mulgars by Walter De la Mare
As they were grubbing a vast hollow pollard-ash that had been the mansion of owls for centuries, he discovered at the bottom a mass of matter that at first he could not account for.
From The Natural History of Selborne, Vol. 2 by Henry Morley
The captain and I were grubbing among indents over a matter of annas and pice, when along comes Sutton, back from shore leave, to spring a wondrous tale—ending in Shakespeare!
From Where the Pavement Ends by John Russell
By the summer of 1629 men, women, and children were grubbing for roots, fishing for food, ranging the rocks for berries.
From Canada: the Empire of the North Being the Romantic Story of the New Dominion's Growth from Colony to Kingdom by Agnes C. (Agnes Christina) Laut
