encourage
verb (used with object)
to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.
had been encouraging
-
past perfect progressiveof encourage.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 team's performance had been encouraging in practice earlier on Friday, when the engine seemed to be giving the expected performance uplift of about 0.3-0.5secs a lap.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Councillor Luis Navarro, of Cambridgeshire County Council, said uptake had been encouraging.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
Her “30 Rock” veteran husband had been encouraging her for years to reach out to the show, and she’s hoping her lifetime of ballroom experience isn’t too much for the competition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2025
In a briefing with analysts, Susan Galbraith, executive vice president of oncology R&D, said the FDA response to the data so far had been "encouraging".
From Reuters ● Jul. 28, 2023
Candice’s mother had been encouraging her to walk over and introduce herself to the boy, but Candice hadn’t seen the point.
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
