patronize
verb (used with object)
to give (a store, restaurant, hotel, etc.) one's regular patronage; trade with.
had been patronizing
-
past perfect progressiveof patronize.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.
His grievance was that cops had been patronizing Hauke’s shop and that sheriffs had evicted his cousins, Hauke’s Section 8 tenants, from one of the apartments upstairs.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 7, 2015
Based on the seething and regret you hear from some law school grads, more than a few wish that someone had been patronizing enough to say, “Oh no you don’t.”
From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2011
In the eight years that Johnny had been patronizing McGarrity’s saloon, he had spoken daily to McGarrity in praise of Katie and the children.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
A member of Parliament, farther up the seat, who had been patronizing New Year's Day races in a portion of his electorate, bawled loudly to his companion about "the doin's of the 'Ouse".
From My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin
One of its chief difficulties was in getting printing paper, the manufacturer it had been patronizing declining to furnish it except for cash, while the Democrat needed partial credit.
From The Abolitionists Together With Personal Memories Of The Struggle For Human Rights by John F. (John Ferguson) Hume
