take
verb (used with object)
to get into one's hold or possession by voluntary action.
had been taking
-
past perfect progressiveof take.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.
Dozens of Great Britain athletes had been taking a new product that increased muscle mass and improved athletic performance – a "wonder pill" that didn't fall foul of any doping rules.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Researchers found that people who had been taking digoxin and then had to stop experienced significantly more problems during the first six weeks compared with people who had never taken the drug.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
Anyway, she had not gone through male puberty, which theoretically might have endowed her with a competitive advantage, because she had been taking puberty blockers and female hormones.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
She and her doctor lobbied to get her on the Novo Nordisk drug last year after the plan stopped covering the rival Zepbound shots she had been taking.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026
I had been taking the wrong path all along.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
