had been germinating
- past perfect progressive of germinate.
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.
While the idea had been germinating for decades, Ellis began working on “The Shards” in earnest during the early days of the pandemic, releasing it as a podcast before it eventually coalesced into novel form.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 12, 2023
“West Side Story” — about rival white and Puerto Rican gangs — had been germinating for years among playwright Arthur Laurents, director-choreographer Robbins, composer Leonard Bernstein and lyricist Sondheim.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 31, 2019
Though Bentsen claimed that his J.F.K. line was spontaneous, it had been germinating for days.
From Time Magazine Archive
The idea for Fantasia had been germinating in Disney's mild-looking head for several years.
From Time Magazine Archive
But it did dramatize and clarify ideas that had been germinating half-unconsciously in millions of Oriental minds, and was thus the sign manual of the whole nexus of forces making for a revivified Orient.
From The New World of Islam by Stoddard, Lothrop
