complain
verb (used without object)
to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault.
have been complaining
-
present perfect progressiveof complain.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.
Hundreds of fans have been complaining online, while one report suggested thousands have had their tickets cancelled.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
People have been complaining about the progressively enhancing degradation in the city for weeks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 14, 2026
Social media users in Afghanistan have been complaining about limited access to different platforms in various provinces since Tuesday.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2025
Hunters and farmers across the country maintain the species is stable and have been complaining for years about wolf attacks on game species and livestock.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 30, 2024
The neighbors have been complaining about some of them, who want to use their upstairs to look in on Kwang’s house, some even asking if the basements might be connected.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
