warn
verb (used with object)
to give notice, advice, or intimation to (a person, group, etc.) of danger, impending evil, possible harm, or anything else unfavorable.
had been warning
-
past perfect progressiveof warn.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.
Earlier this year, a federal appeals court ordered an end to the plan and the Education Department had been warning borrowers they needed to switch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Although the FDA recognized depression as a possible side effect in 2011 and added suicidal thoughts to the label in 2022, researchers had been warning of potential dangers as early as 2002.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2025
Survivors and relatives of some of those killed that day say that they had been warning for months that Hamas had been preparing for an attack.
From BBC ● Feb. 13, 2025
However, a massive storm forecasters had been warning about for days blew through the country’s seven sheikhdoms.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 17, 2024
The news reports had been warning about Hurricane Katrina for days, but nobody in Barry’s house had been paying much attention.
From "I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005" by Lauren Tarshis
