had been waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'had been waiting' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a past perfect tense, used to describe an action that happened before a fixed time in the past. For example: I had been waiting for hours for my friend to arrive when he finally showed up.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He had been waiting.

The New Yorker

Cross had been waiting for this moment.

The New York Times - Magazine

We had been waiting for five hours.

The New York Times

Fans had been waiting for it.

The New York Times - Arts

Poor thing had been waiting so long.

The New Yorker

They had been waiting four hours.

The New Yorker

"I had been waiting it out.

The New York Times

He had been waiting for eight months.

The Guardian

Mrs. Vines had been waiting for him.

The New Yorker

We had been waiting all day.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mohammed Saeed had been waiting all day.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been waiting" to clearly establish that an action or state of waiting occurred over a period of time before another point in the past. This helps to create a clear timeline in your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "had been waiting" when a simple past tense ("waited") or past continuous ("was waiting") would suffice. "Had been waiting" is specifically for actions completed before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been waiting" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase, indicating an action that was in progress for a duration before a specific point in the past. Ludwig shows numerous examples in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been waiting" is a versatile past perfect continuous construction used to describe an action that occurred over a period before a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across numerous contexts, particularly in news and media. To use it effectively, remember it highlights the duration of the waiting period. While generally neutral, context determines overall tone. Use this guide to confidently incorporate "had been waiting" in your writing, avoiding common tense errors and choosing the best alternative to clarify and enrich your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been anticipating

Emphasizes a feeling of expectation and excitement about something in the past, prior to a specific event.

had awaited

A more formal and concise way of saying "had been waiting", often used in literature or official contexts.

had been expecting

Highlights the expectation of something happening, with less emphasis on the duration of the waiting.

had looked forward to

Expresses a positive sentiment and anticipation towards an event or outcome.

had been in anticipation

Focuses on the state of being in anticipation, emphasizing the emotional aspect of waiting.

had been on standby

Suggests a state of readiness and availability, implying a more active form of waiting.

had been kept waiting

Indicates that someone else caused the waiting, often implying a negative connotation.

had been biding their time

Implies waiting patiently for the right moment to act or intervene.

had been marking time

Suggests waiting without making any significant progress or changes.

had been killing time

Indicates waiting by engaging in trivial activities to pass the time.

FAQs

How do I use "had been waiting" in a sentence?

"Had been waiting" indicates an action that continued for some time before another action in the past. For example: "She "had been waiting" for the bus for an hour when it finally arrived."

What's the difference between "had been waiting" and "was waiting"?

"Was waiting" describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past. "Had been waiting", on the other hand, describes an action that started in the past, continued for a period, and finished before another point in the past. For example: "I "was waiting" when you called," versus "I "had been waiting" for an hour before you called."

What can I say instead of "had been waiting"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "had awaited", "had been expecting", or "had anticipated" to convey similar meanings with slight nuances.

Is "had been waiting" formal or informal?

"Had been waiting" is considered neutral in register and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure rather than the phrase itself.