ticking

1 of 3

noun (1)

tick·​ing ˈti-kiŋ 

: a strong linen or cotton fabric used in upholstering and as a covering for a mattress or pillow

ticking

2 of 3

noun (2)

: ticked marking on a bird or mammal or on individual hairs

ticking

3 of 3

present participle of tick entry 2

Examples of ticking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The day’s events are measured in minutes, a ticking clock; the grief in years, a beating heart. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026

In the younger woman’s presence, Rita finds that the ominous ticking clock in her mind goes silent. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026

Several days of this, Britton said, can cause neurons to become more sensitive, such that minor stimuli, like the ticking of a clock or the sound of another person’s breath, can start to feel overwhelming—as can emotions such as rage and grief. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026

Given that men don't have to contend with a biological ticking clock like women do, parenthood becomes a calculus that women are frequently forced to navigate, balancing professional ambition and personal identity. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

tick entry 4

Noun (2)

tick entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1649, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1885, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ticking

• clicking
• flicking
• kicking
• nicking
• picking
• pricking
• sticking
• tricking
• wicking
• picnicking
• politicking

Kids Definition

ticking

noun

tick·​ing

ˈtik-iŋ

: a strong fabric used especially as a covering for mattresses and pillows