writhe
verb (used without object)
to twist the body about or squirm, as in pain, violent effort, uncontrolled passion, etc.
had been writhing
-
past perfect progressiveof writhe.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.
It was odd; a moment before his insides had been writhing like snakes, but suddenly he didn’t seem to have any insides at all.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
Her soul had been writhing in anguish the night before, and out of that anguish hope had been born anew in her heart.
From An Old Story of My Farming Days Vol. III (of III). (Ut Mine Stromtid) by Fritz Reuter
Then, holding the other as in a vise, the thoughts that had been writhing in his mind for so long came hurtling forth.
From Garrison's Finish : a romance of the race course by W. B. M. (William Blair Morton) Ferguson
I had been writhing under that knowledge all the morning of their absence.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 11, No. 64, February, 1863 by Various
“Margaret!” cried Vine, who during the past few minutes had been writhing in his seat, “how can you be so absurd!”
From The Haute Noblesse A Novel by George Manville Fenn
