stand
verb (used without object)
(of a person) to be in an upright position on the feet.
were standing
-
past progressiveof stand.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.
“When we look back at this time,” he said, “I think we’ll realize that we were standing in the foothills of the singularity.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
The researchers found no differences in energy consumption when the birds were standing still.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
"We were standing in front of a shop selling necklaces costing 15,000 euros. It's quite a stark contrast," he added.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
His sons Eric and Don Jr., who run his family business and manage the trust that collects his money, were standing in the background.
From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2026
People were standing around, chatting, laughing nervously, instead of warming up their instruments.
From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee
