Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Peeps-maker Just Born confirmed the move to Consumer Reports, which had been petitioning for the company to more quickly remove the substance from the bird-shaped snacks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2023
Supreme Court declined to hear the case again, but Ms. Stutzman had been petitioning for a rehearing.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 18, 2021
He had been petitioning for a new trial or to have his charges overturned.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 18, 2017
Qualia owner Joel Finkelstein had been petitioning FreshFarm for years for a permanent spot at one of its markets, arguing that local coffee roasters added significant value to an imported agricultural product.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 15, 2016
He had been petitioning the home authorities for the past year to be allowed to leave his private school and go to Wrykyn, and now the thing had come about.
From Mike by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
