whittle
verb (used with object)
to cut, trim, or shape (a stick, piece of wood, etc.) by carving off bits with a knife.
were whittling
-
past progressiveof whittle.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.
It was also something the teams had to think about when they were whittling down their rosters to 53 players last week.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
“As we were whittling down the stone, we came to this, but podcasts were always going to be part of Spaces.”
From The Verge ● Aug. 25, 2022
A few were whittling, a few pitching quoits, or playing leap-frog, and quite a number were having a quiet game of whist, euchre, or 'seven-up.'
From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 1, July, 1862 by Various
All the long years when we were not bothered by wars or rumors of wars, other nations were whittling each other to pieces.
From The Pride of Palomar by Peter B. (Peter Bernard) Kyne
No; and they were whittling, making a boat, and couldn't be bothered.
From Harper's Young People, June 29, 1880 An Illustrated Weekly by Various
