listen
verb (used without object)
to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
had been listening
-
past perfect progressiveof listen.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.
A few hours later, Trump paused the tariffs and said he had been listening to Dimon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026
Michael Barnard, 36, from Barrow, was found dead in August 2023 after he had been listening to music with the engine running and the gas had leaked from a hole in the exhaust.
From BBC ● May 10, 2025
Suzanne is a sought-after hairstylist in Orange County, and she had been listening very closely to her clients, many of whom are politically conservative.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2024
Heather had been listening to the podcast on her commute in Australia, which became moot during lockdown.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2023
Joseph was glad to discover his mother had been listening.
From "The Marvels" by Brian Selznick
