blockade
noun
the isolating, closing off, or surrounding of a place, as a port, harbor, or city, by hostile ships or troops to prevent entrance or exit.
had been blockading
-
past perfect progressiveof blockade.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.
This time, the RSF waited until it had finally seized el-Fasher, a key city that it had been blockading for 18 months, before announcing it was on board with the truce.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2025
In a statement Thursday night Greenpeace said that 26 activists that had been blockading the St. John’s Bridge had all come down from the structure.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 31, 2015
In a statement Thursday night Greenpeace said that 26 activists that had been blockading the St. John's Bridge had all come down from the structure.
From US News ● Jul. 31, 2015
In May the John Adams, which had been blockading the harbor of Tunis, had a severe combat with Tunisian gun-boats and land batteries, and was much bruised.
From Harper's Young People, July 27, 1880 An Illustrated Weekly by Various
Rear-Admiral Man, who had been blockading Cadiz since his detachment there by Hotham, in October, 1795, was ordered up to the main fleet.
From The Life of Nelson, Volume 1 The Embodiment of the Sea Power of Great Britain by A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan
