Gabby means talkative in a light, chatty way. A gabby person loves conversation and fills silences with stories, observations, and questions. Think of the friend who chats nonstop on the school bus, or the neighbor who always has something to say when you're trying to leave.

The word isn't entirely negative, but it suggests talking more than the situation calls for. Your aunt might be gabby at family dinners, keeping everyone entertained with funny stories. But that same gabby quality becomes a problem during a movie when she won't stop commenting on every scene.

Gabby comes from the word gab, which means casual, relaxed talk. When people gab, they're not having a serious discussion or giving a formal speech. They're just chatting away comfortably. Someone who's gabby turns that casual conversation into a constant stream.

Whether being gabby is good or bad depends on the moment. During a long car ride, a gabby companion makes time fly by. During a test, a gabby classmate creates a distraction no one needs.