puzzle
noun
a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort.
have been puzzling
-
present perfect progressiveof puzzle.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.
I did not have a chance to understand from him why my concern was an issue and have been puzzling about it ever since.
From New York Times ● Feb. 18, 2023
College officials locally and nationally have been puzzling over the recent steep enrollment declines, most pronounced among men.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 30, 2022
I have been puzzling over a no less nostalgic quality I notice in my response to these clips that I don’t quite know how to place.
From Slate ● Mar. 4, 2022
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic several months ago, scientists have been puzzling over the different ways the disease manifests itself.
From Scientific American ● Apr. 30, 2020
It may have been puzzling to me, but it only took Mom about a second to make up her mind.
From "The Million Dollar Shot" by Dan Gutman
