were spluttering
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past progressiveof splutter.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
splutterverb (used without object)to talk rapidly and somewhat incoherently, as when confused, excited, or embarrassed.
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.
Bacon and eggs were spluttering in a shallow pan on the hearth, a pot of porridge was ready for him, the kettle steaming.
From The Pioneers by Katharine Susannah Prichard
There were spluttering and bubbling, jerking and rasping, whistling and screaming.
From The History of the Telephone by Herbert Newton Casson
The candles had sunk deep into the bottles and were spluttering in a sea of grease.
From The Dark Forest by Sir Hugh Walpole
A woman with flaming cheeks was throwing handfuls of sliced potatoes into it while she held a saucepan in which a number of eggs were spluttering.
From Combed Out by Frederick Augustus Voigt
Sparks were spluttering out of the funnels of army cookers.
From Now It Can Be Told by Philip Gibbs