hum
verb (used without object)
to make a low, continuous, droning sound.
had been humming
-
past perfect progressiveof hum.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 positive side, the Rams shut down a Raiders offense that had been humming along.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 16, 2022
"Maybe you should start listening to the whole 'Hounds of Love' album," I told my son as we walked to school the morning after finishing "Stranger Things"; he had been humming Kate Bush for days.
From Salon ● May 31, 2022
Prior to the acquisition, MoviePass had been humming along since 2011 as a sustainable but pricey monthly subscription service.
From The Verge ● Sep. 18, 2019
He had been the prom king, class president and Mr. Heard High in a conservative, one-stoplight county in rural Georgia, where life had been humming along until two summers ago.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 24, 2016
The first time I’d kissed Jesse was the first time I’d kissed anyone, and it had felt like remembering the name of a song I’d forgotten but had been humming for days.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
