court
had been courting
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past perfect progressiveof court.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.
But underneath the pomp and circumstance thrummed a question: Could Garber land a megadonor he had been courting for roughly two years?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Wolff had been courting the four-time world champion - and Verstappen will remain of interest for the 2027 season.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2025
Truss didn’t resign, saying she was a “loyal person” — though she had been courting party members for months at “fizz with Liz” events to build support for a potential leadership bid.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 5, 2022
Leonard Hamilton, the head coach of the Florida State basketball team, had been courting six or seven of the players who ended up signing with Overtime Elite.
From New York Times ● Nov. 30, 2021
For over a year Jim had been courting the “big-shot donors.”
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
