hint
noun
an indirect, covert, or helpful suggestion; clue.
had been hinting
-
past perfect progressiveof hint.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.
Mr. Assange, too, had been hinting at coming bombshells.
From New York Times ● Nov. 1, 2018
Teigen had been hinting to her millions of social media followers for several days that the baby was here, and the couple announced in January that they were having a boy.
From Seattle Times ● May 20, 2018
For years, he had been hinting at comebacks - even as recently as March this year, when he announced on Twitter he was filming a new sitcom.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2017
Mr. Boehner surprised many Republicans when he told reporters what he had been hinting for a week: “The current plan is to see what the Senate can produce and to bring that bill up.”
From New York Times ● Mar. 9, 2012
It was Mr Green who had been hinting to Harry something you remember; you read it to us the other morning.”
From Janet's Love and Service by Margaret M. (Margaret Murray) Robertson
