use
verb (used with object)
to employ for some purpose; put into service; make use of.
were using
-
past progressiveof use.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.
A larger share of builders, 66%, were using sales incentives in September to boost sales, including mortgage-rate buydowns or free appliances as upgrades.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
Archaeologists from Griffith University have found evidence suggesting that humans were using mind-altering substances much earlier in time than scientists once thought.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026
To detect flare-ups more effectively, firefighters were using drones equipped with heat-sensing detectors, she said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
But Albertsons did find that shoppers who were using the tools were actually making purchases with higher average order values almost immediately.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
“I mean, uh, you won’t get far in those dusty old Sky Sprints you were using before. And if you fail, so do I.”
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
