squabble
verb (used without object)
to engage in a petty quarrel.
had been squabbling
-
past perfect progressiveof squabble.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 woman had been squabbling with another passenger over access to the overhead luggage bins.
From New York Times ● Aug. 11, 2010
Behind the Belgians came the reckless French team of Letourner and Guim-bretiere, who, as is their custom, had been squabbling with each other throughout the race.
From Time Magazine Archive
They had been squabbling since the Yom Kippur War of October 1973, when Kissinger charged that Schlesinger tried to stall the massive resupply of U.S. weapons to the Israelis.
From Time Magazine Archive
The Post, published by Eugene Meyer, onetime Governor of the Federal Reserve Board, had been squabbling with "Cissy" Patterson's Herald for more than a year.
From Time Magazine Archive
But this only lasted three weeks, when a more successful attempt made them all shake hands, and wonder what they had been squabbling about.
From The King's Own by Frederick Marryat
