scratch
verb (used with object)
to break, mar, or mark the surface of by rubbing, scraping, or tearing with something sharp or rough.
were scratching
-
past progressiveof scratch.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.
Economists were scratching their heads over what exactly caused the big drop in the number of workers over the month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
When he pitched the book, which ends long before his successes with Winehouse on Back To Black and Bruno Mars on Uptown Funk, "people were scratching their heads", Ronson admits.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2025
When the disease first broke out in the Caribbean, “we were scratching our heads,” says Ian Hewson, an oceanographer at Cornell University who has studied diseases in sea stars and other marine animals.
From Science Magazine ● May 28, 2024
My adviser and I were scratching our heads asking, “What does a Spanish hotel owner have in terms of interest in our research?”
From New York Times ● May 15, 2024
As if he were scratching behind the ear of a Yorkie in desperate need of grooming.
From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds
