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.
When we first met, Tipping had been tinkering for more than a dozen years with Walla Walla Sweet Onion, among the best-known Northern-adapted sweet Spanish varieties.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 31, 2024
The manager also said that, while Buehler had been tinkering with his mechanics in recent weeks in search of more productive results, he couldn’t say whether it had any impact on Friday’s injury.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2022
A man who had been tinkering with his pickup truck ran full speed toward the village.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 19, 2022
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
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
