puff
noun
a short, quick blast, as of wind or breath.
had been puffing
-
past perfect progressiveof puff.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.
For months, speculators and wishful thinkers had been puffing up the possibility, and support from abroad gave the glittering scheme some weight.
From Time Magazine Archive
Mr. Temple who had been puffing thoughtfully throughout this discussion, his head bowed, now looked up, and shook his head in negation.
From The Radio Boys on the Mexican Border by Breckenridge, Gerald
The stout young man, whose peculiar behaviour had drawn all this flattering attention from the many-headed and who appeared considerably ruffled by the publicity, had been puffing noisily during the foregoing conversation.
From A Damsel in Distress by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)
"Only follow my directions; and there can be no missing your man," he continued, addressing one who sat opposite to him; and who up to that time had been puffing his cigar with great unconcern.
From Our World, Or, the Slaveholder's Daughter by Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
Now he took the handsome meerschaum pipe from his mouth, from which he had been puffing smoke slowly, and said in a cold, yet quiet voice, “How long you been waitin’, Buck?”
From Northern Lights by Parker, Gilbert
