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.
People who had been laughing with their friends and taking selfies an hour and a half earlier looked glassy eyed and peaceful, as if they were coming out of a trance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2023
According to a statement from Cooper's girlfriend, he had been laughing as his friend ran across the road to Mrs Smith's house.
From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2023
The studio audience had been laughing along with him all day, but when he said that line, he heard them moan.
From New York Times ● Jun. 9, 2021
She had two small children, and, just a month earlier, she and Bolz-Weber had been laughing about the challenges of motherhood.
From The New Yorker ● May 6, 2019
The girls’ eyes met and something passed between them, shock, or shame that they had been laughing in the park when there was this.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
