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.
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
India's stubborn pair of Karun Nair and Washington Sundar led them out of a pickle from 153-6, playing with assured control that the rest of the top order had been lacking.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2025
While earlier studies of play in wild adult chimpanzees had been lacking, they recognized that adult males and females in these groups play together regularly.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 21, 2024
He helped stabilize a position that had been lacking in that aspect.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2024
It was a proper attention that had been lacking.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
