protecting
- 1Present participle and gerund of protect.
The new law focuses on protecting endangered species and their habitats.
Firefighters were protecting the homes nearest the ridge as the blaze spread.
Note
The -ing form does double duty. After a preposition it works as a noun (focuses on protecting species); after be it carries the progressive (were protecting the homes). Like protect, it can drop its object when what is guarded is clear. Airlines give it a narrower trade use: protecting a passenger means booking them on a later flight in case they cannot board the one they reserved.
The gate agent is protecting us on the evening flight in case the connection runs late.
Protecting passengers on later departures has become routine during the storm season.
protecting is a form of protect
protect, verb: To keep safe from harm; to defend or guard against danger. Full entry
- Spelling
- protect → protecting: add -ing
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