breed
verb (used with object)
to produce (offspring); procreate; engender.
had been breeding
-
past perfect progressiveof breed.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.
He sold the farm in 2023, saying he could no longer continue to support the rhinos, which he had been breeding for over two decades.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2025
Simply put, the Countess had been breeding a Gunther bloodline, and when VI is gone, VII will replace him, and so on down the Roman numeral line.
From Salon ● Feb. 3, 2023
Mr. Howe said he knew that cruise liners had been breeding grounds for Covid-19 in the past, but he’s not concerned this time.
From New York Times ● Dec. 19, 2021
Mirelis Toro and Juan Carlos González, Karla’s parents, had been breeding the pigs and selling piglets for the equivalent of U.S.
From National Geographic ● Jan. 27, 2021
He had been breeding peas inside the glass hothouse for about three years.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
