scavenge
verb (used with object)
to take or gather (something usable) from discarded material.
had been scavenging
-
past perfect progressiveof scavenge.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.
Some of those detained may well have been spreading falsehoods, including one that Afghan migrants had been scavenging in ruined neighbourhoods.
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2023
Then the wolves who had been scavenging around our campsites gave birth to dogs who saw opportunity where their forebears had only seen fear.
From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2015
But flesh-eating crabs were found in the nacelles of all four engines, suggesting that they had been scavenging starling remains.
From Time Magazine Archive
