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.
Volsche says many a cat-dad defender wrote in arguing that they were perpetuating negative stereotypes.
From Los Angeles Times β Sep. 9, 2026
“And now, as teachers, we were perpetuating that silence.”
From Washington Post β Apr. 5, 2023
“And now, as teachers,” she added, “we were perpetuating that silence.”
From New York Times β Apr. 1, 2023
He did not try to destroy those who opposed him, he tried to soften their hearts to the injustices they were perpetuating.
From Fox News β Jul. 20, 2020
But from her decks and from behind the ropes the passengers, with a battery of cameras, were perpetuating the historic scene.
From The Lost Road by Richard Harding Davis
