Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She told us her family has never had so little to eat, and that recently people had been knocking on her door asking for food because they were so hungry.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2023
Raichik also learned that a reporter from the Washington Post had been knocking on her family members' doors and asking about her identity.
From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2023
For months, Vargas had been knocking on the door of a big league call-up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2022
Perfect Sting had been knocking on the door all year, finishing second in major races like the North America Cup and the Little Brown Jug.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 30, 2021
They had been knocking about in the fog for twenty-four hours.
From The Coming Wave The Hidden Treasure of High Rock by Oliver Optic
