had been cropping
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past perfect progressiveof crop.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
cropnounthe cultivated produce of the ground, while growing or when gathered.
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.
Open-carry demonstrations had been cropping up in conservative states since the 2008 election, typically with holstered pistols, but Grisham’s group pushed a new tactic.
From Washington Post
Instead of traveling the long distance on foot, as did our friends, he had ridden a horse, which had been cropping the grass close at hand when the boys came up.
From Footprints in the Forest by Edward Sylvester Ellis
All this time his horse had been cropping the scanty herbage.
From 1492 by Mary Johnston
As they stood there, the horse, which had been cropping in a perfunctory manner at the short grass by the roadside, raised its head, and neighed impatiently.
From The Intrusion of Jimmy by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
That part of the field hadn't been ploughed, and the ground was rather hard, covered with grass the cattle had been cropping.
From The Happy Adventurers by Lydia Miller Middleton