gear
had been gearing
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past perfect progressiveof gear.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.
On the eve of the full-scale invasion, UkrSCES had been gearing up for the most ambitious Ukrainian expedition in years to monitor the Black Sea environment.
From Science Magazine ● Jan. 3, 2024
They hugged her and told her they had been gearing up for an intervention for six months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2023
The announcement surprised markets that had been gearing up for a default at the end of the grace period on Wednesday, which would have been Russia's largest major external default in over a century.
From Reuters ● May 2, 2022
The announcement that Mr. Perdue would be temporarily off the campaign trail in the race’s final days startled some Republicans, who had been gearing up for Mr. Trump’s visit on Monday.
From New York Times ● Dec. 31, 2020
For the two years prior to that attack this country had been gearing itself up to a high level of production of munitions.
From The Fireside Chats of Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Franklin Delano Roosevelt
