pity
noun
sympathetic or kindly sorrow evoked by the suffering, distress, or misfortune of another, often leading one to give relief or aid or to show mercy.
were pitying
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past progressiveof pity.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.
In The Road to Wigan Pier, he experienced the squalor of hopelessness while his pink pals were pitying the proletariat.
From Time Magazine Archive
While now he could not understand whether they were pitying him or whether they were laughing at him, because he had lost his way and could not conform himself to anything.
From The Man Who Was Afraid by Herman Bernstein
The young man knew the eyes were pitying!
From The Witness by Grace Livingston Hill Lutz
Then there was Colonel Brunswick, to whom his mind reverted, who was, no doubt, playing the agreeable to his wife, while others were pitying him because she had neglected him for the colonel.
From Zula by H. Esselstyn Lindley
There were tear-stains down their grimy cheeks and it was plain they were pitying him, they who had perhaps yet to tread the paths of sin and deprivation and sorrow for many long years.
From The Witness by Grace Livingston Hill Lutz
