operate
verb (used without object)
to work, perform, or function, as a machine does.
had been operating
-
past perfect progressiveof operate.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.
In 2015, a battery recycling plant that had been operating in Vernon for decades had to close down and pay $50 million toward cleaning up its hazardous wastes such as lead dust, cadmium and arsenic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Revolut had been operating under a restricted license in its home market for nearly two years as it worked with regulators to obtain a full license.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026
But similar to many rural and community hospitals, it had been operating in the red for years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 15, 2026
Rishi Sunak, who was chancellor during the pandemic, told BBC 5 Live's Matt Chorley that both the government and scientists had been "operating in a highly uncertain environment".
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025
The Dancing Trout Dude Ranch and Health Spa had been operating on the Devine estate up in Milagro Canyon ever since the early twenties.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
