open
adjective
not closed or barred at the time, as a doorway by a door, a window by a sash, or a gateway by a gate.
were opening
-
past progressiveof open.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.
“We were opening a new way of living our sport,” Domenicali said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal last year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
Prosecutors said Friday they were opening an investigation into "whether the head of state exercised undue influence" in the government appointments of nine women on his watch.
From Barron's ● Feb. 14, 2026
The town's authorities report that tourists were "opening private home doors without permission to use the restroom," trespassing, littering and "defecating in private yards and raising a fuss when residents pointed this out".
From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2026
The idea took off after Chipotle founder Steve Ells noticed that customers were opening up their burritos and asking for a fork.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2026
He was amazed by the number of hot dog stands that were opening and by the number of buns they went through every week.
From "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal" by Eric Schlosser
