tick
noun
a slight, sharp, recurring click, tap, or beat, as of a clock.
have ticked
-
present perfectof tick.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the 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.
Mortgage rates have ticked up in the past few weeks following months of declines, but Redfin still expects housing affordability to improve this year as income growth outpaces home price growth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026
While the annual percentage rates for credit cards have ticked lower, unpaid balances have increased.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026
The years have ticked by, three of them since he last kicked a ball, but every day spent grafting in the gym is one Gerard Deulofeu believes he is a step closer to a "miracle".
From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2026
That rationale hasn’t changed, notes Goldman, which says central banks’ purchases appear to have ticked up in September, the latest month for which it has data.
From Barron's ● Nov. 18, 2025
And if there had been a clock on the island, it would have ticked off exactly three seconds before he lost consciousness and went down hard in the sand.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
