squat
verb (used without object)
to sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn up closely beneath or in front of the body; sit on one's haunches or heels.
had been squatting
-
past perfect progressiveof squat.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.
He said he had been squatting down and holding onto a rock with one hand when he lost his grip and started to fall back.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2023
“Look at me,” she would say one day, as if the thought had been squatting at the back of her mind, and she wanted to express it before it got lost.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 14, 2018
When he arrived, Curry found a woman who started renting the house more than a year ago but had stopped paying and had been squatting there for months, he said.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 4, 2016
But he was none too happy recently when Patenaude told the county he had been "squatting" there, officials said.
From US News ● May 27, 2016
They had been squatting outside the station after bidding farewell to their official superior.
From The Ruby Sword A Romance of Baluchistan by Bertram Mitford
