swab
noun
a large mop used on shipboard for cleaning decks, living quarters, etc.
were swabbing
-
past progressiveof swab.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.
“Nurses were standing out there in what you’re wearing, and they were swabbing people,” Ali said.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 17, 2022
The sky and sea were grey enough when we were swabbing the decks in the early morning; as the day wore on, they only took the deeper tints of gathering clouds which hid the sun.
From We and the World, Part II A Book for Boys by Juliana Horatia Gatty Ewing
