debate
noun
a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints.
had been debating
-
past perfect progressiveof debate.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.
This is a subject I had been debating whether to mention.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2023
“Archaeologists had been debating the origins of the Swahili people,” Brielle says, “and the whole time they had their own story—which, it turns out, might not be mythology.”
From Science Magazine ● Mar. 29, 2023
Before Amazon’s executive team made the decision to freeze hiring, AWS executives had been debating implementing their own curbs, conversations that were going on regardless of the souring economic outlook, Garman said.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 30, 2022
Los Angeles had been debating legalization for years.
From New York Times ● Jan. 11, 2019
Edestone all this time had been debating in his mind whether this silly prattle was the result of real ignorance, snobbishness, or kindness of heart.
From L.P.M. : the end of the Great War by J. Stewart (John Stewart) Barney
