past progressive

American  

[past pruh-gres-iv] / ˈpæst prəˈgrɛs ɪv /

noun

1. a verb construction, in English made up of the auxiliary verb be in the past tense followed by the present participle of the main verb, used especially to express an action or event that was incomplete or in progress at a point of reference in the past, such as I was sleeping when the phone rang.

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adjective

1. designating a verb construction used to express an action or event that was incomplete or in progress at a point of reference in the past.

Etymology

Origin of past progressive

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Sinema meanwhile soured past progressive activists Deedra Abboud.

From The Guardian • Aug. 29, 2018

“In the past, progressive groups have been working sort of in isolation,” says Mallory, a New York City—based civil rights and anti-gun—violence advocate.

From Time • Jan. 20, 2017