mutter
verb (used without object)
to utter words indistinctly or in a low tone, often as if talking to oneself; murmur.
had been muttering
-
past perfect progressiveof mutter.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.
He was quickly interrupted by Ms. Pirro, who had been muttering in disapproving tones as Mr. Gutfeld was speaking.
From New York Times ● Apr. 20, 2021
And it didn't take too long for a leading US coach to say what many had been muttering.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 31, 2012
After that, other officials in Algeria who had been muttering about resigning fell abruptly silent.
From Time Magazine Archive
Was it Bill Clinton, as restless as a sidelined Michael Jordan during play-off season, who had been muttering quietly to just about everyone for weeks that his buddy Al's campaign was a mess?
From Time Magazine Archive
The boy, who had been muttering something about Harry behind his hand to his friend, promptly turned scarlet and toppled out of the hole in alarm.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
