move
verb (used without object)
to pass from one place or position to another.
had been moving
-
past perfect progressiveof move.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 fire broke out in a canyon and had been moving up the hillsides, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
Even before the pause, many data centers in Texas had been moving ahead with off-grid solutions, working with companies that specialize in modular power.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Indonesia, for instance, planned to replace diesel and coal electricity-generation units with cleaner alternatives, but had been moving slowly.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
He had been moving in that direction even before he took office.
From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2025
They just suspected that he had been moving his bowels and not telling anyone.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
