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had been drowning
  • past perfect progressive of drown.

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.

An interviewee had told me that the Coronation in the UK last May was very "fussy" and had been "drowning in nostalgia".

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2024

Zinn and his wife, Dolores, had been drowning in debt from bad real estate investments.

From New York Times • Jul. 17, 2018

Yet, the relief I felt after the all but hopeless anguish in which I had been drowning for the last few days gave to my spirit a wild exhilaration that night.

From The Powers and Maxine by Merrill, Frank T. (Frank Thayer)

He had been drowning and his father had plunged into the water to save him!

From Steve and the Steam Engine by Scott, A. O. (Arthur O.)

But the lesson was abruptly interrupted by Dutchy, whose imagination was worked up to such a pitch that I actually believe he thought he had been drowning.

From The Scientific American Boy Or, The Camp at Willow Clump Island by Bond, A. Russell (Alexander Russell)