sample
noun
a small part of anything or one of a number, intended to show the quality, style, or nature of the whole; specimen.
had been sampling
-
past perfect progressiveof sample.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.
One of its founders and trustees, John Hall, said the group had been sampling water in the River Stour for three years and had adapted their process for the children.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
I found that a few of the berries of the two early kinds were ripe, also that the robins had been sampling them.
From Driven Back to Eden by Edward Payson Roe
Several of the reagents bottles had been knocked over as if he had been sampling them.
From Star Surgeon by Alan Edward Nourse
