lessen
verb (used without object)
to become less.
had been lessening
-
past perfect progressiveof lessen.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.
The ground-swell had been lessening all the morning, and little aid was now to be had from the rising of the water.
From The Wing-and-Wing Le Feu-Follet by James Fenimore Cooper
For after the burial, and before the evening meal, he had been lessening his tension with some boon companions, down at the Black Cat, and Joyce had had the place to herself.
From Joyce of the North Woods by Harriet T. (Harriet Theresa) Comstock
Navigation had been lessening rapidly, and the boy was beginning to think about Thanksgiving Day.
From The Boy With the U. S. Life-Savers by Francis Rolt-Wheeler
On Friday, the strain, that had been lessening imperceptibly with each succeeding examination, snapped, and Overton began to think about many things that had no bearing on examinations.
From Grace Harlowe's First Year at Overton College by Jessie Graham [pseud.] Flower
