tie
verb (used with object)
to bind, fasten, or attach with a cord, string, or the like, drawn together and knotted.
were tying
-
past progressiveof tie.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.
Farther south, on Catanduanes, a small island the state weather service said could take a "direct hit", residents were tying down their houses and putting weights on their roofs.
From Barron's ● Nov. 8, 2025
Perhaps that's really what McLaren were tying to avoid.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2025
“It didn’t seem like they were tying to arrest him,” Bowens added.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 28, 2023
Some people were tying the knot on a summer Saturday, after the war delayed their plans.
From New York Times ● Aug. 14, 2022
Other leathernecks were tying and retying their boots, checking and rechecking their packs, their guns, their ammunition.
From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac
