had been retaining
- past perfect progressive of retain.
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.
Pete, who had been retaining his breath for some moments, uttered a faint exclamation full of relief.
From Nic Revel A White Slave's Adventures in Alligator Land by Groome, William H. C.
