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.
And inflation, as reported yesterday, has been ticking up lately, not down.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 22, 2025
That’s less than last year’s record-high $12.2 billion, but spending has been ticking up nearly every year since 2005, when the NRF began collecting this data, with millennials largely responsible for Halloween’s sprawl.
From Slate ● Oct. 10, 2024
The percentage has been ticking up steadily in recent seasons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2024
And over the last year, unemployment in the US has been ticking higher, as hiring slows sharply.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2024
It rose to 3.5% in March and has been ticking higher in 2024.
From Seattle Times ● May 13, 2024
