take
verb (used with object)
to get into one's hold or possession by voluntary action.
were taking
-
past progressiveof take.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.
Some interpreted this as a sign that investors were taking Wall Street’s lofty expectations with a grain of salt.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026
"Last year, there were tourists who were taking pictures of us, which was uncomfortable," she added.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
Medea’s story, chronologically set toward the end of the Bronze Age, was already old when the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey” were taking shape around the eighth century B.C.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
“It was a visionary, creative leap that they were taking to spend so much time and money in this project.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
We decided where the invisible Christmas tree would be, and we sat on the floor and pretended we were taking decorations out of boxes and hanging them on the branches.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
