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 Sometimes the allergy doesn’t appear until days or weeks after the initial tick bite, which is why alpha-gal is often misdiagnosed as food poisoning. — Andy Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2026 This number is up a tick from $147 million the prior year through June 30. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026 What makes Reacher tick is gears and springs, and that’s about it. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026 Don’t rely on cedar wood chips for do-it-all tick prevention. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 18 July 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
  • Bake in preheated oven, rotating pans from top to bottom halfway through, until danishes are puffed and deep golden brown, 12-15 minutes.
    — Torie Cox, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Jaylyn Sherrod also provided a spark off the bench with seven points in nine minutes.
    — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of minute
Noun
  • The moon's shadow will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic, Spain, and Portugal, offering up to 2 minutes 18 seconds of totality.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • There was the guy Daemon stabbed through the ear, and then the smelly killers Gwayne sniffed out, and now Ser Adrian, who took a knife to the throat within seconds of seeing Aemond.
    — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of second
Noun
  • The bottom is slightly rounded, which makes for an extremely comfortable two-handed shake.
    — Justine Sterling, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026
  • Teas are also on the menu alongside smoothies, lemonade, energy drinks, shakes and sodas.
    — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
Definition of shake
Noun
  • Zoom all the way out and this moment snaps into a familiar frame.
    — Michael Wee, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The last time they were seen as the full fivesome was in a brief moment after Kate completed the National Three Peaks Challenge in support of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity at the beginning of the month.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of moment
Noun
  • The moment the ride paused at the top — the very split second of anticipation before the drop — was equally fantastic, and worth a return trip.
    — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026
  • Rispoli seemed not totally aware of what happened in the split seconds before the start of the San Diego Handicap.
    — Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
Definition of split second
Noun
  • Other randomized research has similarly found that coffee did not significantly increase premature atrial contractions, the upper-chamber extra beats that might theoretically precede atrial fibrillation.
    — Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Crown Holdings — Shares of the supplier of beverage and industrial packaging climbed more than 2% after the company posted a beat on the top and bottom lines in its second quarter.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 July 2026
Definition of beat
Noun
  • That framing describes a period of compounding progress, not one instant when machines become uncontrollable.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • This chic, oversized suede bomber would fix my problem in an instant.
    — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 18 July 2026
Definition of instant
Noun
  • The latter is located in the center of the ship and truly serves as the heartbeat of Beyond.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
  • Lawmakers and local leaders must stand up for these values and invest in the public schools that are the heartbeat of our communities.
    — Stephanie Vanos, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 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 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on tick

Nglish: Translation of tick for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tick

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

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

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
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
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All