speculate
verb (used without object)
to engage in thought or reflection; meditate (often followed by on, upon, or a clause).
had been speculating
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past perfect progressiveof speculate.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.
Local cable TV networks had been speculating about the weather for the past two days and how it would affect this game.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
Dinosaur fans had been speculating about the existence of prehistoric creatures in “The End of Oak Street” for months before the world had any proper confirmation.
From Salon ● Apr. 12, 2026
Wall Street had been speculating about a possible breakup or takeover of PayPal even before this week.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 24, 2026
But when Merchant questioned Bradley on Tuesday, asking whether he remembered telling her certain things, he said he did not, said he had been speculating or said she misinterpreted his messages.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 29, 2024
The boat assignment seemed tangible and undeniable evidence that what the sophomores had been speculating about was true—something was special about them, and Ulbrickson had unusual confidence in them as a unit.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
