date
noun
a particular month, day, and year at which some event happened or will happen.
had been dating
-
past perfect progressiveof date.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.
The couple, who had been dating since 2011, kept their relationship largely out of the spotlight.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
According to a police affidavit, Ortiz had been dating Hatley and Cynthia at the same time.
From Slate ● Apr. 6, 2026
While the pair had been dating throughout Paul’s pregnancy, they choose to end their relationship and co-parent their son.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026
Family, friends and those who knew her have told local media that she had been dating someone named David and said he was a music artist.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2025
She was fourteen years old and had been dating a boy two years older.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
