hum
verb (used without object)
to make a low, continuous, droning sound.
were humming
-
past progressiveof hum.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.
But just as shareholders were humming the opening bars to “Rocky Mountain High,” the company predicted a sharp drop in this year’s profit, and the stock gave back nearly all of its gains.
From Barron's ● Feb. 20, 2026
American investors were humming “Hail to the Chief” last January, with stocks up in the weeks before Inauguration Day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
The Los Angeles and Long Beach port docks were humming Thursday after the longshore workers union and employers reached a possible labor deal after months of increasingly contentious talks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2023
The Portuguese were humming from the start, and given the speed with which they were performing and the amount of space they were seizing, the Swiss were no match.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 6, 2022
The quiet lights in the houses were humming out into the darkness and there was a stir and bustle among the stars.
From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
