This is the 11572nd most frequent Portuguese word.
participava
"Participava" means "used to participate" or "was participating."
The word 'participava' is used to denote a repeated or habitual action in the past, reflecting the imperfect tense in Portuguese.
Ela sempre participava das reuniões escolares.
She always participated in the school meetings.
Here, 'participava' is used to indicate that during a specific period in the past, there was regular involvement in sports tournaments, which again denotes an imperfect past tense.
Quando jovem, eu participava de muitos torneios esportivos.
When I was young, I participated in many sporting tournaments.
In this context, 'participava' sets the stage for a past ongoing action that was interrupted or transitioned, showcasing an action not fully completed before a new event occurred.