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
Mr Walker, said issues with Blue Islands had been "bubbling under the surface for some time".
From BBC ● Nov. 15, 2025
Zach Bryan’s music had been bubbling online for a few years.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 3, 2023
While disco had been bubbling up from the underground, its moment to shine came with the release of the movie and soundtrack to "Saturday Night Fever," which premiered in December 1977.
From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2022
The way he said it made it seem like the words had been bubbling up inside him.
From "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds
