Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Belov told the trial that he had been walking to a shop with his father for cigarettes when he saw a group of young girls.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
Marine Corps, had been walking home from his job as a substitute teacher at the school.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
A year earlier, Paul Earle had been walking the aisles of Chicago grocery stores with a notebook and pen when he stopped in front of the familiar blue wall of Kraft boxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
In the initial media reports, Jonathan had been described as a witness, who had been walking with his father and told police that Isak had slipped and fallen to the bottom of the gorge below.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2025
I had been walking the mule out to the barn and slowed my walk so as to be close enough to see and hear but not look to be nosy.
From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson
