tail
noun
the hindmost part of an animal, especially that forming a distinct, flexible appendage to the back end of its body.
had been tailing
-
past perfect progressiveof tail.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 pregnant woman, Cary López Alvarado, told NBC Los Angeles that the agents had been tailing her husband and co-worker when they pulled into the parking lot of a building where they were doing maintenance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2025
Until that point, viewership had been tailing off.
From New York Times ● Mar. 29, 2022
An investigation by CNN and the investigative site Bellingcat identified the agents of Russia’s FSB security service who had been tailing Navalny.
From Slate ● Jan. 22, 2021
“Why don’t you just tell them the truth?” he shouted to the cleric under the nervous gaze of several police officers who had been tailing the reporters all day in the oasis city of Aksu.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 24, 2014
Last I saw of you two, Rick was lying across the legs of the guy who had been tailing me.
From The Wailing Octopus by Harold L. (Harold Leland) Goodwin
