thumb
noun
the short, thick, inner digit of the human hand, next to the forefinger.
had been thumbing
-
past perfect progressiveof thumb.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.
U. S. tourists who had been thumbing copies of Everyman closed their books, listened to the opening of the Deity's speech.
From Time Magazine Archive
The doctor dropped the wrist he had been thumbing.
From Where the Pavement Ends by John Russell
Belmont had been thumbing its nose at the judicial system as long as anyone could remember.
From Wild Justice by Ruth M. Sprague
