had been dragging
-
past perfect progressiveof drag.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
dragverb (used with object)to draw with force, effort, or difficulty; pull heavily or slowly along; haul; trail.
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.
Ceasefire talks via middlemen from Qatar, Egypt and the US had been dragging on for several months, at times without hope.
From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2025
According to advocates, CalGEM's rulemaking process had been dragging on for years, and the bill was an attempt to force the agency to take swifter and more decisive action.
From Salon ● Dec. 26, 2022
Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Sony Pictures Entertainment, NBCUniversal, ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia — were forced to abandon their take-it-or-leave-it approach to the talks, which had been dragging on for five months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2021
The divorce had been dragging on for six years, ever since her ex’s attorneys noticed that the date a rabbi signed their marriage license didn’t match the date the marriage license was issued.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 31, 2017
His soul, too, had been dragging a bit, weary and short-tempered.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
![]()