Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The facts: peripatetic Bill Pawley had been sunning himself in Miami at the time the Electoral Tribunal made up its mind on the Commies; the U.S.
From Time Magazine Archive
A few minutes later, her former stepfather's wife Jackie Barrett left the sandbar where they had been sunning themselves and followed Campbell.
From Time Magazine Archive
Uncle Ed all this time had been sunning himself on the 87 bank, when suddenly he uttered a shout of warning.
From The Scientific American Boy Or, The Camp at Willow Clump Island by A. Russell (Alexander Russell) Bond
Of course he had gravitated towards the house when he arrived, and had been sunning himself in the ladies' smiles.
From Brighter Britain! (Volume 1 of 2) or Settler and Maori in Northern New Zealand by William Delisle Hay
He frowned, got up from where he had been sunning himself on top of the Dazzler's cabin, and kicked off his heavy rubber boots.
From The Cruise of the Dazzler by Jack London
