excuse
verb (used with object)
to regard or judge with forgiveness or indulgence; pardon or forgive; overlook (a fault, error, etc.).
had been excusing
-
past perfect progressiveof excuse.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 General, seventeen years ago, wrote to a wealthy lady who had been excusing somebody's want of liberality to us by some of the slanders they had heard.
From The Authoritative Life of General William Booth by George S. (George Scott) Railton
The Jeffersonians had been excusing the defeat they had received in attacking Hamilton in the previous Congress on the ground that the House had acted without allowing sufficient time for due examination of the evidence.
From Washington and his colleagues; a chronicle of the rise and fall of federalism by Henry Jones Ford
