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have been grinding

  • present perfect progressive
    of grind.
    grind
    verb (used with object)
    to wear, smooth, or sharpen by abrasion or friction; whet.

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.

See Examples For:

He wasn't pleased with my doubt but, in my view, it sets a strange precedent and undermines the fighters who have been grinding their way up the ranks, paying their dues with tough fights.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2025

Some residents have resorted to raiding the pantries of neighbors who fled their homes, while others have been grinding up animal feed for flour.

From New York Times ● Mar. 2, 2024

I know our coaches have been grinding it out, doing a great job, putting us in a position to succeed.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 7, 2022

Edgerton is finally seeing the benefits of painstaking research he and a handful of other scientists in the world have been grinding away on, trying to push the boundaries of possibility.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2021

In want of anything better to do I have been grinding away at a book on the Geography of Australia for Stanford for the last six months.

From Alfred Russel Wallace: Letters and Reminiscences, Vol. 1 by James Marchant