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.

Lynagh said he was licking his lips in anticipation of facing Ireland, who were hammered 36-14 by France on Thursday, in Dublin next Saturday.

From Barron's • Feb. 7, 2026

Mateo Retegui - the man whose penalty was saved - was licking his lips at the chance to make up for it by heading into an empty net.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2024

“It was licking our heels on the way out of here,” Rains recalled.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2024

Many of the songs curl into static or sonic distortion at the end, as if fire was licking at their edges.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 7, 2023

Once, when I checked, it had pulled itself over to the saucer and, with what seemed to be the last bit of strength it had, was licking one of the pieces of banana.

From "Missing May" by Cynthia Rylant