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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.

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

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