compile
verb (used with object)
to put together (documents, selections, or other materials) in one book or work.
had been compiling
-
past perfect progressiveof compile.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.
One was that insurance companies, which had been compiling actuarial tables that looked at the risk factors connected to occupation, age, gender, height and weight, started to become more sophisticated.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 25, 2019
Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin also wrote last month that White House officials had been compiling names of potential replacements for Mattis.
From Slate ● Oct. 14, 2018
Since leaving the hospital, Kanye had been compiling notes about his experiences and feelings.
From New York Times ● Jun. 25, 2018
The barangay kapitan, an elected official at the head of the community, had been compiling lists of local users.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 10, 2018
She had been compiling it without my knowledge for the last year or so we were together.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
