bubble
noun
a nearly spherical body of gas contained in a liquid.
had been bubbling
-
past perfect progressiveof bubble.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.
In the build-up to the convention, though, the Washington Post reported on some stories from Maine that had been bubbling up on social media about his temper and shouting matches with fellow lawmakers.
From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2026
But internal tensions had been bubbling for weeks before exploding into the open on Wednesday night.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2024
“Interest had been bubbling before, but the pandemic led people to get into their feelings and search for ways to relieve their anxiety,” McQueen says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 15, 2023
Zach Bryan’s music had been bubbling online for a few years.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 3, 2023
The excitement that had been bubbling up inside Candice began to simmer down.
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
