tick on
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
Time just keeps going forward.
Literal meaning: For a clock to keep ticking forward — transparent.
Meanings
1 B2 neutral
For time to continue passing, often while someone waits or without anything significant happening.
"Time ticked on and still no decision had been made by the committee."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Less common than 'tick away' or 'tick by'. Primarily British English. Used to describe the passage of time, often in contexts of waiting or slow progress. The subject is typically 'time', 'the clock', or a unit of time.
Commonly used with
time clock hours minutes years life
Forms
Base
tick on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ticks on
he/she/it
Past simple
ticked on
yesterday
Past participle
ticked on
have + pp
-ing form
ticking on
continuous
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Synonyms
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