had been gauging

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of gauge.
  gauge

  verb (used with object)

  to determine the exact dimensions, capacity, quantity, or force of; measure.

Related Words

• appraise
• ascertain
• assess
• calculate
• calibrate
• determine
• evaluate
• guess
• quantify
• take account of
• weigh