tinker
noun
a mender of pots, kettles, pans, etc., usually an itinerant.
were tinkering
-
past progressiveof tinker.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 the boys were tinkering with tunes, they “ping-ponged” ideas with such joyful energy that people in adjoining offices could hear them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2025
She played Mary in a 1992 British production at Leicester’s Haymarket Theatre, where Sondheim and Furth were tinkering with the show away from the New York-London spotlight.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2024
During his summation, Steinglass pointed to a document that had been initialed by Trump and called it “explicit” proof of his knowing that his executives were tinkering with expenses to reduce their tax liabilities.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 6, 2022
“Generally speaking, shows that were tinkering about with the format. I remember seeing Airplane! in the cinema and thinking, ‘I didn’t know they made films like that, that’s the best film ever made!’
From The Guardian ● Jun. 1, 2019
The place was full of tourists who were tinkering with their cameras, getting ready to shoot pictures of the sunset.
From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen
