chirp
verb (used without object)
to make a characteristic short, sharp sound, as small birds and certain insects.
had been chirping
-
past perfect progressiveof chirp.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.
Doncic had been chirping at officials for most of Sunday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets and finally got slapped with a technical midway through the third quarter of a tightly contested game.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 26, 2023
The sun was hot, though it was early spring, and there was a grasshopper just at my elbow who had been chirping a lullaby to her babies for the last half-hour.
From The Fairies and the Christmas Child by Lilian Gask
Some fat robins had been sunning about in the school-yard at noon, and sparrows had been chirping and twittering on the fence-rails.
From Story of Waitstill Baxter by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin
