advocate
verb (used with object)
to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.
had been advocating
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past perfect progressiveof advocate.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
Bankers had been advocating with Trump administration officials for months, hoping to run what will likely be one of the largest debt restructurings of all time, on par with Greece some 10 years ago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
He had been advocating for a player union for some time and was announced as a co-founder alongside the 2014 Wimbledon doubles champion Vasek Pospisil.
From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2025
Thera Webb: I believe it started around 2016 when one of the archivists at that time had been advocating for a focus on collecting the papers of women faculty.
From Scientific American ● Oct. 5, 2023
Many Cuban activists had been advocating for such a proposal, which the Federation of Cuban Women, the only legal women’s organization in the country, did not support.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 17, 2023
For the past month she had been advocating the engagement of a nursery governess for Bébita.
From Miss Maitland Private Secretary by Geraldine Bonner
