clean
adjective
free from dirt; unsoiled; unstained.
had been cleaning
-
past perfect progressiveof clean.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.
Abbey Bujupi, 40, said she had been cleaning when she got a call from her husband.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2025
“She was brilliant and witty and everyone adored her, but what I remember most clearly was this man who had been cleaning the building,” she said.
From New York Times ● May 22, 2023
He had been cleaning, and his hands were dirty, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 29, 2022
The station had been cleaning out old lost items.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 21, 2020
Mrs. Friedman had been cleaning off the blackboard.
From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben
