deliver
verb (used with object)
to carry and turn over (letters, goods, etc.) to the intended recipient or recipients.
had been delivering
-
past perfect progressiveof deliver.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 U.S. had been delivering much-needed supplies to the British via trans-Atlantic convoys since the start of the war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
The lorry driver told officers he had been delivering the parcels to people in the Italian cities of Genoa and Milan, French authorities said.
From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2025
Bridge had been delivering his speech inside prisons throughout Pennsylvania for months before Drinks heard him speak.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 19, 2023
South Africa’s Department of Defense said in a statement on Wednesday that the plane had been delivering diplomatic mail for the Russian Embassy.
From New York Times ● May 4, 2023
Babulya had been delivering salves and potions all around the village for years in secret.
From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
