gape
verb (used without object)
to stare with open mouth, as in wonder.
had been gaping
-
past perfect progressiveof gape.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
Gogles’ eyes had been growing larger and larger, and rounder and rounder, and his mouth had been gaping more and more.
From Marmaduke Merry A Tale of Naval Adventures in Bygone Days by William Henry Giles Kingston
Ward had been gaping at him in amazement.
From The Skipper and the Skipped Being the Shore Log of Cap'n Aaron Sproul by Holman Day
The giants were nearly all in motion now, the milling of such throngs of them having caught the vacant stares of those who had been gaping at nothing.
From The Giants From Outer Space by Geoff St. Reynard
Whether or not he had been successful in finding any traces of the mysterious thing they had been gaping at so long, Elmer did not bother telling them just then.
From The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts: Under Canvas or, The Hunt for the Cartaret Ghost by Alan Douglas
Cyril had been gaping a bit while these few remarks were in progress.
From Death at the Excelsior And Other Stories by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
