phone
noun
were phoning
-
past progressiveof phone.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.
When he wasn’t there, we were phoning every day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2026
"On Saturday, me and my colleague were phoning up companies in and around Llanberis, Bangor and Caernarfon asking for help," Mr McIntyre said.
From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2025
“He was just angry because he knew it could be better. He had no patience for people who were phoning it in or reaching for the lowest common denominator.”
From New York Times ● Jan. 16, 2024
In an earlier virtual interview with “CBS This Morning,” Talley had appeared as a bouncing blur — as if he were phoning in during a minor earthquake.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 29, 2020
Two girls from the Chase Comprehensive were phoning their dads from the phone box by Mr. Rhydd's.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
