tick

noun

Definition of ticknext
as in minute

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tick Then a goal with a single tick left on the clock, sending the game to overtime. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Priced at $14,800, the elegant watch has been given the tick of approval from A-listers including Paul Mescal, Rami Malek, Oscar Isaac, and Dwayne Wade. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026 Jennifer Lopez tapped her feet as her handlers held an umbrella, as the show start time tick-tocked to over an hour past. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026 Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan are considered two of the best offensive minds in the sport, and their respective NFC West clubs rewarded them with new deals in 2026 that are estimated to be a tick lower than the top trio at roughly $19 million a year. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tick
  1. minute
  2. second
  3. shake
  4. moment
  5. split second
  6. beat
  7. instant
  8. heartbeat
Noun
  • Over the record’s 33 minutes, Holden delivers an outstanding addition to his catalog that’s as absorbing and realist as any rap album this year.
    — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The nearly six-minute film shows how the team combines precision machining, assembly, and repair to accelerate robot development.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of minute
Noun
  • The fastest breakout was 27 seconds, and one intrusion reached full data exfiltration in four minutes.
    — Asaf Wiener, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • To avoid negative leap seconds, scientists agreed to expand the leap-second window to a leap hour.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of second
Noun
  • For its part, KFC recently unveiled new drinks, including iced coffees and shakes, at Open House, its innovation restaurant in McKinney, Texas.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Other menu favorites such as pies, cakes, cookies, breads, sundaes and milkshakes are available, along with the return of mango shakes and slushies, and homemade guava and hot pepper guava jellies.
    — Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of shake
Noun
  • Catch up on breaking news, exclusive interviews, political analysis, original reporting, and standout moments — all in one place, every week.
    — Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026
  • These are but moments in an auteur’s widescreen epic that never sits still.
    — Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of moment
Noun
  • Scientists have recorded what happens inside a crystal in the split second before a quantum bit forms.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The emotions of Chiefs fans changed in a split second Sunday.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of split second
Noun
  • Revenue blew past the consensus by nearly $2 billion, with equities trading power a large chunk of that beat.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, polskas emphasize the first and third beats, creating a loping sort of feeling.
    — David Harris, SPIN, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of beat
Noun
  • Heat, whisking constantly, until sugar is dissolved and an instant-read thermometer registers 170°.
    — Tanya Bush, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026
  • But these changes won’t all be in sync, so there’s no ticking clock that applies to them all at any instant — hence, pseudo-time.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of instant
Noun
  • Focusing on something introspective, such as breath, heartbeat or a growing and shrinking dot, can induce a near-hypnotic state that clears the mind.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Focusing on something introspective, like your breath, your heartbeat or a growing and shrinking dot, can induce an almost hypnotic state that clears the mind.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of heartbeat

Browse Nearby Words

tic
tick
ticked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tick. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on tick

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tick

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of syncretic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All