tinker
noun
a mender of pots, kettles, pans, etc., usually an itinerant.
had been tinkering
-
past perfect progressiveof tinker.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.
While he didn’t go full offseason implementation like he did with the splitter a year ago, he had been tinkering with a two-seam fastball and a cut fastball during his throwing sessions.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 17, 2024
Since 2004 the Ledbetters had been tinkering with an idea for a follow–up, collecting the other sides of those same 78s that Smith highlighted in his anthology.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 14, 2020
He was using a new, longer putter that he had been tinkering with for the last year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2020
He had been tinkering with his son's tricycle, trying to find a way to cushion the ride.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2019
The teacher, who had been tinkering all this time at his machine, now rushed up with coat-tails flying.
From Good Blood by Ernst Von Wildenbruch
