Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That pushed I bonds up, just as other fixed-income products were sinking lower.
From MarketWatch ● May 6, 2026
The lag could feel particularly long with January’s data, which reflect a period when mortgage rates were sinking and optimism was building for the spring season.
From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026
"We were just joking around," Mr Baranovičius said, adding that his attitude quickly changed when he realised they were sinking.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2025
It has been a widely recognized symbol of distress since the nation’s founding, when sailors turned the American flag upside down to signal that their ships were sinking, on fire or trapped in ice.
From New York Times ● May 17, 2024
Equipment and supplies had fallen from the station and were sinking to the bottom.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
