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.

White flocks of long-legged water-birds were preening their wings in the shadows, in which rock and boughs and farthest snow stood glassed.

From The Three Mulla-mulgars by De la Mare, Walter

At another time I saw him fly over a large flock of wild ducks that were preening themselves in the grass.

From Ways of Wood Folk by Copeland, Charles

They took the path to their right, which skirted the bank where the white geese and swans were preening their feathers.

From A Mummer's Tale by Roche, Charles E.

The wren and the gowdspink were preening themselves and shaking off the dews that fell on their feathers as they fussed to and fro about their nesting business.

From Deep Moat Grange by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)

Then Duckie was released and fed and departed to gabble her wrongs to the other white ducks that were preening themselves amongst the deep green grass of the adjacent orchard.

From Robinetta by McAulay, Allan