live
verb (used without object)
to have life, as an organism; be alive; be capable of vital functions.
had been living
-
past perfect progressiveof live.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.
Haidar Haidar, the brother of the building's owner, told AFP that nobody had been living inside.
From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026
They had been living in nearby Danvers in a two-bedroom condo unit they’d bought in 2020 and wanted extra space for their toddler and their dog.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
Richard, who was 55 at the time, had been living in his car at Parkside Cottage on Christopher Wright's farm on Sheffield Road in Barnsley, helping with small jobs around the farm.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
In September 2025, my mom, who had been living in an ADU we built in our backyard, died.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
“I don’t know anything about cattle,” she said, “but he said these had been living off rocks and sand.”
From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko
