Standard Lemma guide

tick-tock

intj · noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

intj

Meaning 1

The sound of the ticking of an analog clock.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

intj

Meaning 2

Time is running out; a deadline is approaching.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial

Examples

  • Near-synonym: clock is ticking

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clock is ticking

Antonyms: none provided

3

intj

Meaning 3

Time is running out; a deadline is approaching.

Expresses warning of some fateful, impending event.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clock is ticking

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The sound of a ticking clock.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A step-by-step account of an event or timeline.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: journalism, media

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To make continual clicking sounds like those of an analog clock; to tick.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

When marching, to swing arms and legs on the same side at the same time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Imitative. See tick.

Across languages

Translations

34 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: çıq-çıq — sound of a ticking clock
  • Catalan: tic tac — sound of a ticking clock
  • Chinese Mandarin: 滴答 (dīdā) — sound of a ticking clock
  • Dutch: tiktak — sound of a ticking clock
  • Dutch: tik-tak — sound of a ticking clock
  • Esperanto: tiktako — sound of a ticking clock
  • Finnish: tik-tak — sound of a ticking clock
  • Finnish: tik tak — sound of a ticking clock
  • French: tic-tac — sound of a ticking clock
  • German: ticktack — sound of a ticking clock
  • Hebrew: תִִּקְתָּק — sound of a ticking clock
  • Hebrew: תיק תק (tik-tak) — sound of a ticking clock
  • Hungarian: tik-tak — sound of a ticking clock
  • Italian: tic tac — sound of a ticking clock
  • Italian: tictac — sound of a ticking clock
  • Japanese: チクタク (chiku-taku) — sound of a ticking clock
  • Māori: tatetate — sound of a ticking clock
  • Polish: tik-tak — sound of a ticking clock
  • Polish: tik-tok — sound of a ticking clock
  • Russian: тик-так (tik-tak) — sound of a ticking clock
  • Spanish: tictac — sound of a ticking clock
  • Spanish: tic tac — sound of a ticking clock
  • Spanish: tic-tac — sound of a ticking clock
  • Turkish: tik tak — sound of a ticking clock
  • Vietnamese: tích tắc — sound of a ticking clock
  • Esperanto: tiktaki — to make clicking sounds
  • French: tictaquer — to make clicking sounds
  • German: ticken — to make clicking sounds
  • Māori: tatetate — to make clicking sounds
  • Polish: tykać — to make clicking sounds
  • Polish: tyknąć — to make clicking sounds
  • Russian: тикать (tikatʹ) — to make clicking sounds
  • Russian: тикают (tikajut) — to make clicking sounds
  • Spanish: tictaquear — to make clicking sounds