estaba riendo

was laughing

→ estar
phrase Uncommon #10,982
was laughing A past progressive form of estar + riendo, used for an action that was in progress. With reírse de, it means “was laughing at.”
SP: Cuando llegué, Ana estaba riendo.
EN: When I arrived, Ana was laughing.

Tom se estaba riendo de Mary.

Tom was laughing at Mary.

Le pregunté a Tom porqué se estaba riendo.

I asked Tom why he was laughing.

No se estaba riendo de nadie.

He/She wasn't laughing at anyone.

— Los lunes al sol (2002)

Tom estaba riendo.

Tom was laughing.

Viste cómo me miraba, se estaba riendo de mí.

Did you see how he was looking at me? He was laughing at me.

— Los lunes al sol (2002)

Y cuando miré detrás, Nandini se estaba riendo de mí ¿Sabes lo que dijo?

And when I looked behind me, Nandini was laughing at me. You know what she said?

— हम दिल दे चुके सनम (1999)

No se estaba riendo de ti.

He wasn't laughing at you.

— Los lunes al sol (2002)

No solo me estaba riendo ante sus gritos, Me reía de sus hijos.

I wasn’t just laughing at his screams; I was laughing at his children.

— The Running Man (2025)

Me estaba riendo.

I was laughing.