violate
verb (used with object)
to act against (a law, principle, promise, agreement, instruction, etc.); break, transgress, or fail to honor.
were violating
-
past progressiveof violate.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.
Housing Department estimated that 7,500 short-term rentals were violating the city’s Home Sharing Ordinance, but the city only issued 300 citations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 21, 2025
The decision undoes a ruling by US District Judge Maame E Frimpong in Los Angeles, who had said that there is a "mountain of evidence" showing the raids were violating the US Constitution.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2025
One book publisher was told they were violating the new law for acknowledging the basic truth that being enslaved is a terrible experience.
From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2023
Around the same time, state officials at the Department of Social and Health Services faced a federal lawsuit over allegations they were violating incarcerated people’s due-process rights.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 9, 2023
They claimed that they were violating no law of God or man in taking this cotton.
From Octavia The Octoroon by J. F. Lee
