waste
verb (used with object)
to consume, spend, or employ uselessly or without adequate return; use to no avail or profit; squander.
were wasting
-
past progressiveof waste.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.
She supported equal rights and opportunities for women—but resented suggestions that stay-at-home moms were wasting their lives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
But we did find that simply measuring fresh produce waste made all households more likely to think about what they were wasting.
From Salon ● May 6, 2024
"It was really tough. Everyone mocked us. They said we were wasting our time on Praia do Norte. No sponsors believed in us."
From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2023
They had been assured that they were wasting their time.
From New York Times ● Nov. 8, 2022
Carla and her mother were wasting his time.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
