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 men were "stirring up trouble" and "maliciously" targeted authorities, according to an op-ed on the state-backed Ta Kung Pao newspaper.
From BBC ● Apr. 13, 2023
By mid-morning dozens of reporters were stirring in their warm winter coats — lined up doing live shots on the north side of the campus.
From Salon ● Dec. 9, 2021
The Yankees had hurriedly pulled their players off the field and canceled batting practice, but the visiting Boston Red Sox were stirring.
From New York Times ● Jul. 15, 2021
However, a few streets away, more than 280 market stalls were stirring to life.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 9, 2015
Around them animals were stirring: horses stamped, birds began, waking, to sing the dawn in, and here and there across the market meadow, those in the tents were beginning to rise and move.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
