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had been setting

  • past perfect progressive
    of set.
    set
    verb (used with object)
    to put (something or someone) in a particular place.

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.

See Examples For:

In recent months, the union had been setting the stage for a second.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 12, 2024

Nonetheless, the 400 free at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which had been setting up as a two-way battle for gold between Titmus and Ledecky, may have just gained a third contender.

From Washington Post Jun. 18, 2022

Baldwin and Hutchins had been setting up for a shot where the actor was supposed to draw the gun and point it at the camera.

From Fox News Dec. 2, 2021

They weren’t far from the warehouses where she had been setting up her sensors.

From Seattle Times Nov. 21, 2021

If, in fact, we had been setting a trap for her, I bet she'd have sensed it and avoided the berries.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins