Phrase guide

past progressive

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • rhymes with -ɛsɪv

1

noun

Meaning 1

past continuous

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: continuative, past, uncountable

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a progressive tense used to describe on-going action in the past

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • `I had been running' is an example of the past progressive

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: past progressive tense

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: progressive, progressive tense, imperfect, imperfect tense, continuous tense

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.