learn
verb (used with object)
to acquire knowledge of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience.
had been learning
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past perfect progressiveof learn.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.
"I tried to answer as much as I could since I had been learning Italian despite all the difficult circumstances, including internet outages, fear, and the pressure of daily life during the war," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
Bratton had been learning the trumpet when he got that electric Silvertone guitar, which had an amplifier in the case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2024
Tess had been learning to swim so that she could join her sister in the tradition of jumping in the nearby river after commencement.
From Seattle Times ● May 23, 2023
Hani was a quiet, obedient child who had been learning how to write numbers and recognize the letters of the alphabet, her mother, Ms. Neng, said during an emotional interview.
From New York Times ● Nov. 24, 2022
All day, he had been learning that it was not so much the physical things, or the threat of physical difficulties, that frightened him.
From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill
