had been backpacking

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of backpack.
  backpack

  noun

  a pack or knapsack, often of canvas or nylon, to be carried on one's back, sometimes supported on a lightweight metal frame strapped to the body.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

had been backpacking

Marins had been backpacking around Thailand and Vietnam before arriving in Lombok Island, Indonesia.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2025

She and her friend Julia Gilmour had been backpacking around the UK, and initially planned to go as spectators before deciding to enter at the last moment.

From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2023

Catherine: I had been backpacking around Southeast Asia the previous year, so I get that my standards were a little skewed.

From Slate ● Apr. 3, 2018

The families of the captives have been asked repeatedly why Boyle and Coleman had been backpacking in such a dangerous region.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 14, 2017

Sutay, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, had been backpacking through several Central and South American countries.

From Reuters ● Sep. 28, 2013

Related Words

• knapsack