protest
noun
an expression or declaration of objection, disapproval, or dissent, often in opposition to something a person is powerless to prevent or avoid.
had been protesting
-
past perfect progressiveof protest.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.
Instead, they were pressured to investigate Good’s partner and any connections to groups who had been protesting in the Twin Cities, The Wall Street Journal reported.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026
Suffragists had been protesting for years about the need to include women among the voting population in numerous countries such as Britain, Germany, and the United States.
From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022
State media reported Friday that Iranian authorities had arrested at least 22 demonstrators who had been protesting sudden price hikes of subsidized staple foods, 15 of them in Dezful.
From Seattle Times ● May 14, 2022
Many had been protesting for years and were now cautiously optimistic that the law would change.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2022
The man who had been protesting stopped and dropped to his knees.
From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep
