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.
That referenced the Mets’ belief that the Yankees had been whistling on Saturday in an attempt to tip their batters to Taijuan Walker’s pitches.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 12, 2021
On the terraces, fans who had been whistling desperately for the end for at least 10 minutes could at last celebrate.
From The Guardian ● May 10, 2013
For a long time now he had been whistling songs and singing them; writing music, even, on the sly.
From Time Magazine Archive
Forty minutes before, we had been whistling in sunshine.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
A good while later, when they had been whistling and luring and following the disturbed and sulky hawk from tree to tree, Kay lost his temper.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
