Question 1

What does "tick by" mean?

Accepted Answer

For time to pass steadily, often while someone waits or observes.

Question 2

How do you use "tick by" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

The hours ticked by and still there was no news from the hospital.

Question 3

Is "tick by" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"tick by" is register-neutral — appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. Very similar to 'tick away' but slightly more neutral. Used to describe the passage of time, often from the perspective of someone waiting or watching. Common in literary and journalistic writing. The subject is almost always a unit of time.

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