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.

It looks as if the British farmers who had been building Stonehenge over the preceding centuries all but disappeared – again, for reasons which remain unclear.

From Science Daily • May 30, 2026

CEO Robert Davis asserted earlier this year that the company had been building a “patent wall” to cover new indications and drug combinations, with some patents extended to 2029.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

This arc with Jimmy over the three seasons had been building up to Jimmy finally saying the actual thing, which is some version of, “Who’s gonna want me now?”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Evidence emerged that Tehran had been building two previously undeclared nuclear facilities, adding a new dimension to the U.S. concerns about Iran that have ever since dominated Washington’s view of the regime.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

It confirmed something Elizabeth had long suspected: all these years, Elena had been building up credit.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng