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.
On Saturday, some residents of the island were tying down their houses and putting weights on their roofs.
From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2025
Perhaps that's really what McLaren were tying to avoid.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2025
Maybe the parents were tying up loose ends at their jobs to clear the rest of the day for their boys.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 26, 2023
“It didn’t seem like they were tying to arrest him,” Bowens added.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 28, 2023
I realized that they were tying up the line so that no hate calls could come through.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
