spiral
noun
a plane curve generated by a point moving around a fixed point while constantly receding from or approaching it.
had been spiraling
-
past perfect progressiveof spiral.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.
The brutal culling of masked palm civets from Guangdong wildlife markets and farms that commenced last week has only exacerbated the sense that matters had been spiraling out of control.
From Time Magazine Archive
FOR many weeks the production of Ardan warships and missiles had been spiraling upward.
From Masters of Space by Robert Lee Berry
