negotiate
verb (used without object)
to deal or bargain with another or others, as in the preparation of a treaty or contract or in preliminaries to a business deal.
had been negotiating
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past perfect progressiveof negotiate.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.
Unknown to him, Mr. Netanyahu had been negotiating all day to do just that, in preparation for the decisive afternoon cabinet meeting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
The Rams and Williams’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had been negotiating since the end of the 2024 season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2025
He was sacked in December 2020 when it emerged that he had been negotiating with Feyenoord.
From BBC ● May 20, 2024
EU countries had been negotiating for months a reform of the bloc’s fiscal rules limiting debt and deficits for member states, known as the Stability and Growth Pact.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 20, 2023
The night before the convention I had been negotiating with Mr. de Klerk on the telephone until after eight in the evening.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
