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1
: local and habitual spasmodic motion of particular muscles especially of the face : twitching
2
: a frequent usually unconscious quirk of behavior or speech
"you know" is a verbal tic
Synonyms
Examples of tic in a Sentence
The verbal tic “you know” often occurs in her speech.
constantly playing with her hair is one of her more annoying tics
Recent Examples on the Web
Never mind caring about any of these characters, a word that should technically be in scare quotes here, though kudos to the cast for being so nimble in switching personality traits, defining tics and signature cadences on a dime.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2024
Each character should have their own unique voice, complete with verbal tics, favorite phrases and patterns of speech.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2024
The most sincere, uncontrollable, and difficult-to-show physical tic is the orgasm.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 20 Sep. 2024
All of his signature visual tics are present, from humorously macabre costuming to German-expressionist, handcrafted production design.
—Joshua Rivera, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French
First Known Use
circa 1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing tic
Dictionary Entries Near tic
Cite this Entry
“Tic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
tic
noun1
: a regularly repeated twitching movement of a particular muscle and especially one of the face
2
: a particular form of behavior or speech that is often repeated
"you know" is a verbal tic
More from Merriam-Webster on tic
Nglish: Translation of tic for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tic
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