stop
verb (used with object)
to cease from, leave off, or discontinue.
had been stopping
-
past perfect progressiveof stop.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.
For much of the day Saturday, people had been stopping by at Curtis’ home to pay their respects, according to her granddaughter, Erica Dantzler.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 15, 2026
Det Insp Prince said Connie had been stopping at the house since 17 September, as she was visiting Lacey and her family.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2021
He told me he had been stopping a fight.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 14, 2019
He had been stopping in the house of a woman named Brown and went to the chief of police with a story that he had been robbed of $8000 in the house.
From Slate ● May 20, 2018
For weeks, geese had been stopping by on their migrations.
From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown
