He stayed for five years while fitfully trying to write a novel.

Most of its 189 parishes are fitfully trying to come to terms with the seismic events of the past few months.

Tse Rangji fitfully tries shoveling away the waves of sand that menace her home, half engulfing it like some artifact of a lost civilization.

When she had it, she crawled in, fitfully tried to pack snow around the entrance, then curled up as tightly as she could and was instantly asleep.

National Hockey League players may be locked out as they fitfully try to negotiate a new labor agreement.

After trying fitfully to explain the red-button function, he finally conceded that he wasn't sure how it worked, and gave up.

Kirk tried fitfully to stir, alarm bells going off in his head.

After high school he tried fitfully to make a living as a sketch artist and a scenery painter.

Most of the inmates were asleep or fitfully trying to sleep.

American readers knew that Updike was performing a service for them, mapping the new terrain they were trying so fitfully to negotiate themselves.