flash
noun
a brief, sudden burst of bright light.
had been flashing
-
past perfect progressiveof flash.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.
A stock-market trading indicator that had been flashing “sell” since May no longer is as pessimistic toward stocks.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
The Mets began August in first place and ended it in third place, out of the playoff picture and apologetic that some of their stars had been flashing thumbs-down gestures to their own fans.
From New York Times ● Sep. 12, 2021
Lightning had been flashing through the hot city for hours, brighter & brighter, and about the time they got the young man to Sydenham Hospital the thunder crashed and the rain came down.
From Time Magazine Archive
The warning signals had been flashing for weeks.
From Time Magazine Archive
The eyes which had been flashing fire a moment before, were suffused with tears, as the melancholy procession passed her by.
From A Heroine of France by Evelyn Everett-Green
