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.
Investigators found the 29-year-old had been listening to music on his mobile phone, which displayed a warning that the sound was too loud.
From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2026
A few hours later, Trump paused the tariffs and said he had been listening to Dimon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026
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
Matilda, who had been listening closely, said, "But daddy, that's even more dishonest than the sawdust. It's disgusting. You're cheating people who trust you."
From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl
