had been toning

• 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 tone.
  tone

  noun

  any sound considered with reference to its quality, pitch, strength, source, etc..

Related Words

• approach
• aspect
• character
• expression
• fashion
• feel
• humor
• manner
• mode
• mood
• nature
• note
• quality
• style
• tenor
• trend