complain
verb (used without object)
to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault.
had been complaining
-
past perfect progressiveof complain.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.
French newspaper Le Figaro reported Kavinsky had been complaining of headaches for several days, and authorities think he may have had a stroke.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Administrators had been complaining to her about it but had no policy to point to in order to justify taking it down.
From Salon ● Jun. 19, 2024
At Huttonsville Correctional Center in West Virginia, Robbie Campbell had been complaining of severe constipation and rectal bleeding since the beginning of 2016, according to medical records contained in a lawsuit.
From New York Times ● Feb. 19, 2023
The star of the day, however, was Dejan Joveljic, who had been complaining about a lack of opportunity after playing just 193 minutes through the club’s first 13 games.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2022
There a Pope had been complaining, as he was held to ransom, or another one had been wriggling, as he was poisoned.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
