had been holding
- past perfect progressive of hold.
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 Observer said he would "set out a timetable for his departure", noting he had been holding weekend talks from Chequers, the countryside retreat for prime ministers.
From Barron's ● Jun. 21, 2026
For months, bitcoin had been holding its ground in a fairly narrow trading range after tumbling from its highs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
Attorney Christian Contreras, who filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Lowe’s family, said his clients had been holding out hope that the officers would be criminally charged.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 30, 2025
Capital One felt so good about how borrowers are paying back credit cards and auto loans that it released $760 million it had been holding back to cover potential losses.
From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2025
My confused feeling for her had been holding me back, and I had clung to her out of my fear of being forced out on my own, and cut adrift.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
