tick
noun
a slight, sharp, recurring click, tap, or beat, as of a clock.
has been ticking
-
present perfect progressiveof tick (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
In some ways, the clock has been ticking for 44 years.
From Slate ● May 5, 2026
And inflation, as reported yesterday, has been ticking up lately, not down.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 22, 2025
It rose to 3.5% in March and has been ticking higher in 2024.
From Seattle Times ● May 13, 2024
Ridership plummeted after the pandemic, but it has been ticking upward.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2023
"I think the clock has been ticking for a while already," she told the ABC on Thursday.
From BBC ● Nov. 16, 2016
