had been gossipping

• 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 gossip.
  gossip

  noun

  idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others.

Related Words

• buzz
• chatter
• chitchat
• conversation
• hearsay
• news
• scandal
• slander
• tale