had been trying
- past perfect progressive of try.
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.
We had been trying to have a baby for a while, and my wife found out she was pregnant that day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
"Most of them had been trying to hide their autism," Rippon explains.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
On Sunday, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo came out fighting against critics he said had been "trying to kill me for the past 23 years".
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
Wilson, who owns around 8.7% of Lululemon’s outstanding shares, had been trying to shake up the board in the face of steep competition against brands like Vuori and lower-priced dupes.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 4, 2026
“For years our group had been trying to find ways to stop the lumber company from chopping down those beautiful old trees,” she’d explained.
From "I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980" by Lauren Tarshis
