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
"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 F. Colburn (Francis Colburn) Adams
"I should," spoke the other from the depths of his chair, where he had been puffing in moody silence.
From The heart of happy hollow A collection of stories by Paul Laurence Dunbar
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 Gilbert Parker
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 Gerald Breckenridge
