chew
verb (used with object)
to crush or grind with the teeth; masticate.
had been chewing
-
past perfect progressiveof chew.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 other words, squirrels had been chewing through the lines or otherwise interfering with the seamless delivery of electricity.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 15, 2019
“A walk-up song is supposed to exemplify who we are,” said Jewett, who had been chewing on his choices since last summer.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 22, 2013
Also axed: the costly pension plan, which had been chewing up $900,000 a year, or between 6% and 7% of the operating budget.
From Time Magazine Archive
It was common, he writes, "to see the very young prying open the mouths of the very old and pulling out food they had been chewing."
From Time Magazine Archive
Horse spit out the grass he had been chewing.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
