percolate
verb (used with object)
to cause (a liquid) to pass through a porous body; filter.
were percolating
-
past progressiveof percolate.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.
"Those ideas were percolating in the time of Darwin, and soon thereafter, as people started to … hone in on ecology as the basis of how natural selection works," Hittinger says.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 25, 2024
Some bills were percolating before the East Palestine derailment.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 27, 2023
Some ideas that were percolating before the Texas measure are likely to gain momentum.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2021
As early as January this year, concerns were percolating that the Iraqi F-16s "could be in jeopardy" as conflict with Iran reached fever pitch.
From Fox News ● Aug. 25, 2020
Neylan reported back that things were percolating along, albeit under the surface.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
