sell
verb (used with object)
to transfer (goods) to or render (services) for another in exchange for money; dispose of to a purchaser for a price.
had been selling
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past perfect progressiveof sell.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.
Hochman on Wednesday said that before the chidken sandwich’s launch in April, the chain — known for things like ribs and fajitas — had been selling 20 chicken sandwiches per restaurant per day.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
Novo, which had been selling insulin for more than a century, didn’t run its first ad campaign for Wegovy until 2023.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
Jewelry brand Phillips House, which had been selling to Saks for more than a decade, started noticing missed payments in March 2022.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026
Before the US president's order, Venezuela had been selling its oil at up to 35 percent below market price, according to Francisco Monaldi, an economist at the Baker Institute, a think tank in Texas.
From Barron's ● Dec. 18, 2025
In the Agriculture Building a giant pane of glass fell from the roof and shattered the table at which, just a few seconds earlier, a young woman had been selling candy.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
