covet
verb (used with object)
to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others.
had been coveting
-
past perfect progressiveof covet.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.
Daniel Medina Díaz, a triathlete who lives in Benton Harbor, Mich., had been coveting a bike from the company’s Quintana Roo line since he encountered the brand at last year’s U.S.A.
From New York Times ● Dec. 24, 2020
The live hourlong program began with an updated prelude to the original novel eerily warning that superintelligent beings had been coveting “this Earth with envious eyes.”
From New York Times ● May 21, 2016
Her father had given her the money for a pocket microscope which Ernest had been coveting for months.
From Chicken Little Jane by Ritchie, Lily Munsell
