break
verb (used with object)
to smash, split, or divide into parts violently; reduce to pieces or fragments.
had been breaking
-
past perfect progressiveof break.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.
Japanese cryptographers had been breaking U.S. military codes — seemingly at will — and Navajo, a complex, little-known, tonal language, turned out to be a perfect solution to a dire problem.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 2024
Brito added that Baena had been "breaking through the invisible barriers that closed in the nonbinary community".
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2023
Originally it was believed that a single, large black bear the public nicknamed “Hank the Tank” had been breaking into homes.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 6, 2023
According to court documents, managers at P H Food had been breaking the law by choosing not to check work papers submitted by undocumented immigrants.
From The New Yorker ● Oct. 31, 2019
I overheard him tell Edna that his mom took his phone away for the whole weekend because Miss McDaniels told her that he had been breaking school rules when he got hurt.
From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina
