How to Use tick over in a Sentence

tick over

verb
  • Rambukkana's toddler plays with her mum's phone as the minutes tick over.
    — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Leeds have left points on the table in recent weeks, but their defence has stepped up to keep things ticking over.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Two counselors can be appointed through what’s known as a letters patent to help keep the state ticking over.
    — Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
  • The men also averaged a tick over five goals a game in the preliminary round plus looked a little rusty doing it.
    — Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • The challenge for Glasner is to keep his players ticking over rather than risk losing rhythm altogether.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • With the scoreline about to tick over to either 4-2 or 5-1, Géa appeared unable to relieve himself.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 24 May 2026
  • Upsets in the early rounds are exciting, shocking and fun, but when the tournament ticks over into the second week, matches that are supposed to be big can feel small.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
  • The calendar had just ticked over to 1986, and Bleymaier was jetting off to a Big Sky Conference meeting.
    — Shaun Goodwin may 25, Idaho Statesman, 25 May 2026
  • Striker Julian Alvarez has blossomed into a genuine star, and the Albiceleste have plenty of midfield options to either keep things ticking over.
    — Joe Kozlowski, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
  • His consolation goal against Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup was the sort of scruffy set-piece goal that keeps a goalscoring tally ticking over, even in lean periods.
    — Carl Anka, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
  • Zohran Mamdani will become mayor of New York City as the clock ticks over into 2026 — but the celebrations are set to last through New Year’s Day.
    — Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
  • On Friday, Minnesota’s average price for regular gasoline ticked over $4 a gallon, according to the AAA auto club, after oil prices spiked this week over global supply concerns related to the Iran war.
    — Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tick over.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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