traffic
noun
the movement of vehicles, ships, persons, etc., in an area, along a street, through an air lane, over a water route, etc..
were trafficking
-
past progressiveof traffic.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.
Since late summer 2025, the US has conducted dozens of airstrikes on boats originating from Latin America that it alleged were trafficking narcotics and belonged to terrorist organizations.
From Barron's ● May 28, 2026
Despite the Home Office’s conclusion that the men were trafficking victims, the case did not involve charges of trafficking or modern slavery.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2024
These smugglers were trafficking something all together less high profile – so-called “living rock cactus” that grows uniquely on the arid plains of Big Bend national park in Texas.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 20, 2020
He also said short-sellers were trafficking in misinformation.
From BusinessWeek ● Apr. 27, 2011
By providing links to it, Mr. Corley and 2600 were "trafficking" in a technology that allows others to circumvent a technological protection measure.
From The Public Domain Enclosing the Commons of the Mind by James Boyle
