spoil
verb (used with object)
to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.: Drought spoiled the corn crop.
has been spoiling
-
present perfect progressiveof spoil (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.
Like many a convention aficionado, Plotkin has been spoiling for a floor fight for decades.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 14, 2016
Dish has been spoiling for a fight with Sprint over that deal, which would give the Japanese telco a foothold in the world's most lucrative wireless market.
From Reuters ● Jan. 9, 2013
Jessica Simpson has been spoiling her father, Joe, and bought him Botox for his birthday, says an Australian magazine.
From Time Magazine Archive
The union at General Motors has been spoiling for a fight for months.
From Time Magazine Archive
But he has been spoiling for this fight since November 2006, when Shi'ite parties walked out of Siniora's coalition Cabinet.
From Time Magazine Archive
