burn
verb (used without object)
to undergo rapid combustion or consume fuel in such a way as to give off heat, gases, and, usually, light; be on fire.
have been burning
-
present perfect progressiveof burn.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.
Three major fires have been burning around the north-western state's second-most-populous city since the weekend, with firefighters still working to contain the flames.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
The major fires have been burning for two or three days, with many hundreds of firefighters battling them around the clock, to the point of exhaustion.
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
The Airport, Bridge and Line fires started near the beginning of September and have been burning for weeks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2024
The fires have been burning with the highest intensity around the city of Viña del Mar, where a famous botanical garden founded in 1931 was destroyed by the flames on Sunday.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 4, 2024
My face must have been burning like an animated case of athlete’s foot in a Lotrimin commercial.
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
