lick
verb (used with object)
to pass the tongue over the surface of, as to moisten, taste, or eat (often followed by up, off, from, etc.).
are licking
-
present progressiveof lick.present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And the coming wave of mega-IPOs presents more risks than usual: Private investors are licking their chops at the prospect of cashing in on long-awaited gains.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
With a World Cup around the corner, it is little wonder fans around the globe are licking their lips at the prospect of watching Yamal again this season.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2025
“We are licking our own wounds,” said Hekmat Hamoud, who had been displaced twice by Syria’s ongoing conflict before finding himself trapped for hours beneath rubble.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 12, 2023
And after the Jags’ playoff victory, the Steelers surely are licking their chops for revenge.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 20, 2018
Wells tells me that you are licking your chops, Tom, in expectation of my book coming out.
From Letters of John Keats to His Family and Friends by John Keats
