plead
verb (used without object)
to appeal or entreat earnestly.
had been pleading
-
past perfect progressiveof plead.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.
Mayor Jean Massillon had been pleading for help for months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn had been pleading with the governor to visit the affected community and “see the landslide for himself.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2024
One of the employees said Mitchell was having difficulty breathing and had been pleading for help, according to the charge-sheet.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2024
It was only last month that the first Patriot systems arrived in Ukraine, even though Kyiv had been pleading with the Pentagon for the weapons since the start of the war.
From New York Times ● May 6, 2023
I understood now why Edward had been pleading.
From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien
