reason
noun
a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc..
had been reasoning
-
past perfect progressiveof reason.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.
Observers had been reasoning that EPA would reach a compromise with California, given that most automakers had been lobbying to keep one national standard.
From Scientific American ● Jul. 20, 2018
So Monk had been reasoning for some time; and it was on the 17th of March, the day after the dissolution of the Parliament of the Secluded Members, that his ruminations had taken practical effect.
From The Life of John Milton, Volume 5 (of 7), 1654-1660 by David Masson
Then to their great joy, they saw they had been reasoning wrongly.
From Afloat in the Forest A Voyage among the Tree-Tops by Mayne Reid
Norman had been reasoning with himself—with the aid of the self that was both better and more worldly wise.
From The Grain of Dust by David Graham Phillips
