deteriorate
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become worse or inferior in condition, character, quality, value, etc.
had been deteriorating
-
past perfect progressiveof deteriorate.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.
He shared a video of a high school which he said had been deteriorating rapidly, saying the meme-coin would help support its "rebuilding and furnishing" and give "students a chance for a better future".
From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2025
But First Republic struggled nonetheless, and its condition had been deteriorating for weeks.
From New York Times ● May 1, 2023
But youth mental health had been deteriorating for some time before the pandemic, as psychologists like me have been noticing for at least 10 years.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 8, 2022
The Baltimore Police Department said Thursday that Officer Keona Holley’s health had been deteriorating in recent days and the family made the difficult decision to end life support.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 23, 2021
There is too much reason to believe that during several centuries preceding the discovery of the Islands they had been deteriorating in many respects.
From The Hawaiian Islands Their Resources, Agricultural, Commercial and Financial by Hawaii. Dept. of Foreign Affairs
