argue
verb (used without object)
to present reasons for or against a thing.
had been arguing
-
past perfect progressiveof argue.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.
Soldiers arrived at the Tahiti building where residents had been arguing.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
My car was rattling and my bathroom faucet was leaking and my husband and I had been arguing about money—arguing regularly for the first time in our marriage.
From Slate ● May 18, 2024
The couple’s son, Eric, initially told police that his parents had been arguing in the hours before his mother’s death.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 19, 2023
Officers were told that Wells and the victim had been arguing throughout the day over a golf game they played at the resort’s course.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 1, 2022
She hadn’t lost her temper exactly, but her voice was frighteningly stern, and the men’s voices, which until this point had been arguing with her, fell silent.
From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro
