had been cringing
- past perfect progressive of cringe.
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.
A head was shooting upward from the ground; limbs were sprouting; a moment later, a man was standing where Scabbers had been, cringing and wringing his hands.
From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling
At that moment a gosling waddled close to the dog, who had been cringing in a corner of the courtyard.
From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan
