Skip to main content
to tock

to tock

14 6.0
To make a short sharp sound like a clock
  • verb
  • /tɑk/
translation icon : hacer tic-tac
  • Tick, tock, tick, tock, Mother.
  • tick-tock

Examples

  • I sat in the quiet room listening to the clock tock away the minutes.

  • Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.

  • I heard him enter the house, and the clock on the wall continued to tock.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • CAROLINE: Tick, tick, tock, high noon approaches.

  • Tick, tock.

  • Tick, tock.

  • Tock tock tock, boom!

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Hey... you'll be sitting here and you'll be listening to the tick, tick, tick, tock, tock, tock... of all these clocks.

  • Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.

  • Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock!

Synonyms

to tick
vsto tock
151 1.0

To make short, regular tapping sounds like a clock

is a single short sharp sound rather than a regular series
to click
vsto tock
92 1.0

Make a short sharp sound like a small tap

is similar but sounds more like a singular timekeeping strike
to ding
vsto tock
22 6.1

To make a short high sound like a small bell, for example on a phone

is a crisper percussive sound rather than a ringing tone
ping
vsto tock
18 6.4

A short, sharp high sound like metal being struck

is a briefer, simpler sharp noise not as resonant
to clink
vsto tock
16 5.1

To make a short, sharp sound by hitting glass or metal together

is less clearly metallic and more like a plain sharp strike
to tinkle
vsto tock
15 3.9

To make a light clear ringing sound like a small bell

is a firmer, sharper strike rather than a light chime
to clack
vsto tock
5 7.2

To make short, sharp clicking sounds

is shorter and simpler, matching a single sharp strike
to ching
vsto tock
1 8.8

To make a short sharp ringing sound like metal hitting metal

is a brief sharp sound not focused on metal ringing
to chink
vsto tock
1 7.7

To make a short high ringing sound like small metal pieces hitting

is lower in pitch and more like a single clock strike
to tink
vsto tock
1 9.5

To make a short high ringing sound like a small bell

is a crisper, less bell-like single sharp sound
to plink
vsto tock
1 7.3

To make a short high sound by hitting small hard things

is shorter and less musical, more like a single tap
to ticktack
vsto tock
9.5

To make a repeated ticking sound like a clock

is one brief sharp sound, not a continuing repeated series
to tuk
vsto tock
9.9

To give a short, light knock on something

is a quick percussive strike more like a clock hit

Compounds

1 3.3

The regular sound a clock makes as time passes

tick-tock
  • Jargon
7.7

A plan to alternate big design changes with ways to make products better

How Sharp

clang
28 3.9
to click
92 1.0
to tock
14 6.0
to tick
151 1.0
tap
66 1.0
rustle
12 4.4

Surface Forms

tock infinitive
tocked past
tocked past participle
tocking present participle
tocks third person singular

Etymology

Tock as a verb comes from the same short sound 'tock' of a clock and is often used with tick in 'tick-tock'. So to tock is 'to make a short, sharp sound', like the regular beat a clock makes.