Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Trojans’ defense certainly didn’t help matters, in spite of assurances that it had ironed out its issues over three standout, second-half performances.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 22, 2025
Sad to say, the “SNL At Home” episode that aired two weeks later, on April 25, had ironed out those appealing wrinkles, delivering a more polished episode that resembled the usual show.
From Washington Post ● May 3, 2020
In recent weeks, it had been increasingly clear that the United States and the Taliban, after nine rounds of painstaking negotiations in Doha, Qatar, had ironed out most of the issues between them.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 8, 2019
But by game time, Baxter had ironed out the mistakes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2016
I had ironed it along with three other outfits yesterday.
From "Amal Unbound" by Aisha Saeed
