crumble
verb (used with object)
to break into small fragments or crumbs.
has been crumbling
-
present perfect progressiveof crumble (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
Venezuela’s oil industry has been crumbling for years, with production dwindling to about 1 million barrels a day from around 3 million two decades ago.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 9, 2026
"The old paradigm that people lived at Poverty Point continuously for centuries has been crumbling, and we needed a new framework."
From Science Daily ● Nov. 24, 2025
But since the high-profile charges were announced by prosecutors in Santa Fe, the case against Baldwin has been crumbling due to a variety of problems with the investigation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2023
It's no surprise, then, that teen mental health has been crumbling across the country.
From Salon ● Apr. 15, 2021
The sidewalk in front of our building has been crumbling for years, and no one has ever bothered to fix it.
From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez
