save
verb (used with object)
to rescue from danger or possible harm, injury, or loss.
had been saving
-
past perfect progressiveof save.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.
Ocasio-Cortez said she had been saving for the procedure and considering it for a long time.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
While the majority of millionaires were older workers who had been saving for a long time, a total of 4% of the retirement-account millionaires were millennials, who are those born between 1981 and 1996.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 4, 2026
These account holders were mostly Generation X members and baby boomers who had been saving for roughly 25 years, according to Fidelity vice president of thought leadership Mike Shamrell.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 7, 2026
For over a year, Elías Padilla had been saving up to make the journey from Honduras to the United States as an undocumented immigrant.
From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2025
I had been saving it all these years.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
