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.
The largest U.S. retailer raised its outlook for the year after a surprisingly strong third quarter, saying higher-income shoppers were spurring market-share gains.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 16, 2022
Natalia, the owner of a Moscow logistics firm who declined to give her last name because she fears the government, described how sanctions were spurring price hikes.
From Washington Post ● May 26, 2022
Chris Gibson, a Republican congressman who represents the area, said craft breweries and New York City residents were spurring a bit of growth.
From New York Times ● Aug. 26, 2016
Mikhail Gorbachev’s belated attempts to reform the Communist system were spurring on pro-democracy movements across Eastern Europe.
From Slate ● Apr. 15, 2016
Relief came with the dawn, at a moment when the tribesmen were spurring themselves to the greatest effort of all, sustained by the knowledge that their Great Fakir was among them.
From Rosa Mundi and Other Stories by Ethel M. (Ethel May) Dell
