cycle
noun
any complete round or series of occurrences that repeats or is repeated.
had been cycling
-
past perfect progressiveof cycle.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.
Long-term care manager Kay Li, who had been cycling across the bridge when she was told by the army to leave, said it was "a necessary exercise".
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
Standing in front of the prime minister’s official residence, Burnham said he was acutely aware that the U.K. had been cycling through leaders at an unprecedented rate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
"My watch said that I had been cycling for three hours," Abdelaleem says.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 3, 2026
Mr Morris, a father of two with four grandchildren, had been cycling on the A6055 Leeming Lane near Kirklington when he was killed.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2025
A chopper that had been cycling above started to descend and move toward the crowd.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
