lack
noun
an absence or inadequate amount of something needed, desirable, or customary.
had been lacking
-
past perfect progressiveof lack.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.
Earlier studies have suggested that women using hormone therapy may lose more weight when treated with GLP-1-based drugs like semaglutide, but data on tirzepatide had been lacking.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 23, 2026
Local officials helped by making phone calls to disaster victims in parts of Altadena where response had been lacking, according to Anish Saraiya, Altadena’s recovery director for L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2025
Midfielder Keira Walsh said their "slow start" may have "kicked them into gear" but they found confidence and bravery that had been lacking in Zurich.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2025
He helped stabilize a position that had been lacking in that aspect.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2024
And on some level, I expected a brand- new Birmingham—a friendlier and more accommodating Birmingham, where my children could experience the freedom that had been lacking for me as a child.
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
