Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Two months later, police were knocking on their door.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
"By about 22:20 we were escorted back to our houses, I got a bag out and they were knocking on the door saying hurry up. I've got very little with me."
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
Amid the tumult, filmmakers were knocking on Elordi’s door.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2025
Volunteers were knocking on doors, touting Dave Min for Congress and attending an ice cream social for Tammy Kim’s mayoral campaign in Irvine.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2024
Half a minute later they were knocking a thin, flat bar of solder out onto the workbench.
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
