rob
verb (used with object)
to take something from (someone) by unlawful force or threat of violence; steal from.
had been robbing
-
past perfect progressiveof rob.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.
In the village of Seattle, some marauder had been robbing henroosts and Tom Jones was accused of being the guilty party.
From Blazing The Way True Stories, Songs and Sketches of Puget Sound by Emily Inez Denny
You remember how Zaccheus, the little, short man who had been robbing the people by collecting too much tax-money, climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Christ pass by.
From Fifty-Two Story Talks to Boys and Girls by Howard J. (Howard James) Chidley
The first thought was that Yap Sing had been robbing the Club.
From The Comstock Club by Charles Carroll Goodwin
I am congratulating myself that we boys had sense enough not to take seriously your claim that you had been robbing anyone's garden.
From The High School Boys' Canoe Club by H. Irving (Harrie Irving) Hancock
Taking advantage of this lull, the fugitive declared that the wounded man had been robbing him.
From A Lady's Visit to the Gold Diggings of Australia in 1852-53 by Ellen Clacy
