allow
verb (used with object)
to give permission to or for; permit.
had been allowing
-
past perfect progressiveof allow.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.
And presumably it had been allowing inbound shipping headed to Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
The Panama Canal had been allowing more than 40 ships a day to pass through on their way to the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 12, 2024
Amazon Prime had been allowing you to download stuff you wanted to watch later for years.
From The Verge ● Aug. 17, 2022
But the Treasury Department had been allowing the Russian government to use those funds to make coupon payments on dollar-denominated sovereign debt on a case-by-case basis.
From Reuters ● Apr. 7, 2022
Dusty’s first mistake had been allowing Jasper Jr. and Bull to hang out aboard the Coral Queen on the night of the grand reopening.
From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen
