shorten
verb (used with object)
were shortening
-
past progressiveof shorten.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.
Tour de France organisers announced that they were shortening the following day's final stage of the cycling race due to the wildfires ravaging southwest France.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Oie, the Chino Hills real estate agent representing the Szemereis, said such listing websites were shortening time-on-market before the pandemic, allowing buyers to come to a viewing much more prepared and ready to bid.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2021
He also told participants about topics he had left off the agenda because the late starts were shortening their discussion time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2015
The days were shortening into winter, and dusk came soon.
From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin
The greater part of one watch was likewise below, in the fo’c’s’le; and the rest of the crew, under Dick Morrell’s eye, were shortening sail.
From All the Brothers Were Valiant by Ben Ames Williams
