Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The passenger ferry had been sailing from Bali to the next-door island of Lombok when it caught fire in the early morning hours.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
The ship, which researchers had linked to Iranian oil transfers, had been sailing under a Gabonese flag.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
The True Confidence, a bulk carrier, had been sailing to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from Lianyungang in China, according to tracking data.
From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2024
It had been sailing for only a day when it and another vessel, the Santa Margarita, were struck by a hurricane and sank west of Key West.
From New York Times ● Dec. 3, 2022
They had been sailing in the Gulf, and had been expected Thursday in Cape Coral.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
