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.
Intercity passenger trains were still relatively abundant in 1962, although the jet airliner and interstate highways were siphoning off travelers.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 29, 2022
Patman believed that the wealthy were siphoning assets that otherwise would have been subject to the estate tax and pouring them into tax-exempt foundations benefiting their niche causes.
From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2021
In February, the parent company of a West Virginia newspaper chain filed an antitrust suit against the two companies, alleging that they were siphoning digital ad revenue away from news organizations.
From The Verge ● Sep. 1, 2021
Some games were siphoning off users’ messages and photographs.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 10, 2018
The proximity worried him; he was already paranoid that townspeople were siphoning off his water.
From New York Times ● Jul. 19, 2018
