Showing results for "ticking"

• present participle of tick.

ticking

American  

[tik-ing] / ˈtɪk ɪŋ /

noun

1. a strong cotton fabric, usually twilled, used especially in making cloth ticks.

2. a similar cloth in satin weave or Jacquard, used especially for mattress covers.

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ticking British  

/ ˈtɪkɪŋ /

noun

1. a strong cotton fabric, often striped, used esp for mattress and pillow covers

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Etymology

Origin of ticking

First recorded in 1635–45; tick ³ + -ing ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ticking

With the hours ticking down to the closing ceremony, when Japan will hand over the baton to Doha, top officials were on the defensive.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

The sets have too many doors, the scenes have a delirious number of extras and the actors yell their lines over the distracting clatter of crackling fireplaces, beeping machines and ticking clocks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026

“While the constant rotation has kept us from seeing a correlation-one selloff, we continue to think the clock is ticking, and we see one sooner than later,” says Krinsky.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

"He's a superstar and I'd love to think I'd have the opportunity to be up against him again, but I don't know, maybe time is ticking."

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Only the clock beyond the gates makes any motion, slowly ticking by the afternoon hours.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

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Related Words

• breathing
• contemporary

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