quarrel
noun
an angry dispute or altercation; a disagreement marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendly relations.
had been quarreling
-
past perfect progressiveof quarrel.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.
These were the very men who so lately had been quarreling with each other.
From Time Magazine Archive
The couple had been quarreling bitterly over money; only days before, Davis had been ordered to increase support payments to Priscilla to $5,000 a month.
From Time Magazine Archive
Halfway down to Johnny Chuck's house, Peter Rabbit almost ran plump into Bobby Coon and Jimmy Skunk, who had been quarreling and were calling each other names.
From Adventures of Reddy Fox by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess
She looked as if she had been quarreling with somebody.
From Girls of the Forest by L. T. Meade
During the session, from time to time, they had been quarreling.
From Fifty Years of Public Service by Shelby M. Cullom
