persuade
verb (used with object)
to prevail on (a person) to do something, as by advising or urging.
had been persuading
-
past perfect progressiveof persuade.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.
Bunni, who helped gather witnesses to testify in these court cases, says one of his biggest challenges had been persuading frightened Syrians to go public.
From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2022
His top priority had been persuading state and city leaders to fund the agency’s roughly $29 billion capital spending plan to pay for the system’s maintenance and expansion.
From New York Times ● Jan. 2, 2017
We were in the play-room, and I had been persuading her to try her hand—or feet—at roller skating.
From Uncanny Tales by Mrs. Mary Louisa Molesworth
He had been persuading Grafenberg the whole evening to make a speech.
From Vivian Grey by Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
Some of the neighbours had been persuading him the day before to employ a native doctor; he however refused, saying he would have no physician but Jesus Christ.
From Life of William Carey by George Smith
