polish
verb (used with object)
to make smooth and glossy, especially by rubbing or friction.
had been polishing
-
past perfect progressiveof polish.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.
All afternoon, Harvey had been polishing another gem, having allowed only one run to the , and he was warming up to pitch before the start of the eighth inning.
From New York Times ● Jun. 9, 2013
He dropped the glass he had been polishing.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
"Mornin'," he nodded, and looking into his driver's eyes, dropped the handful of dirty lint with which he had been polishing.
From Noughts and Crosses Stories, Studies and Sketches by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Rawson-Clew had been polishing his eyeglass, he put it back in his eye before he spoke.
From The Good Comrade by Anna Whelan Betts
"My friend is right," said Nick Chopper, who had been polishing his breast with a bit of chamois-leather.
From The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum
