drift
noun
had been drifting
-
past perfect progressiveof drift.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.
Prof Whitty also warned that although the UK had some of the highest take-up of childhood vaccines in the world, rates had been "drifting down" over the last decade.
From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2025
It’s unknown just how long the bottle had been drifting in the ocean or when it washed ashore.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2024
The level of isotopes suggests the stone had been drifting through space for at least 10,000 years before falling to Earth.
From DOGO News ● Sep. 1, 2023
The boat carrying the migrants had been drifting in the Atlantic about 40 miles to the south of Gran Canaria for about a week, the Canary Islands emergency services said on Sunday.
From Reuters ● Nov. 14, 2021
The punt had been drifting broadside on, but now one end swung forward, so that Hazel lost his bearings and found that he was no longer looking at the bridge but at the bank.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
