pollute
verb (used with object)
to make foul or unclean, especially with harmful chemical or waste products; dirty.
have been polluting
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present perfect progressiveof pollute.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.
"We have been polluting with carbon our atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution and you cannot unpollute. Except with this," Granholm said in a speech before she was handed the ceremonial shears.
From Scientific American ● Nov. 10, 2023
"The businesses that have been polluting in this community should be cleaning it up," they said.
From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2023
The spill focused public and political attention on Duke's 130 million tons of coal ash, which environmentalists have warned for years have been polluting rivers, streams and groundwater with toxic ash.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2015
