inch

²inch

verb

Definition of INCH

intransitive verb

: to move by small degrees : progress slowly <the long line of people inching up the stairs>

transitive verb

: to cause to move slowly <sooner or later they begin inching prices back up — Forbes>

Examples of INCH

1. We inched along in heavy traffic.
2. As she neared the finish line, she inched ahead of the other racers.
3. Gas prices are inching up again.
4. I inched the car into the garage.

First Known Use of INCH

1599

Related to INCH

Synonyms: creep, encroach, worm

Antonyms: fly, race, speed, whiz (or whizz), zip

Related Words: snake, sneak; entrench (also intrench), impinge, infringe, intrude, invade; overpass, overreach, overrun, overshoot, overstep

Near Antonyms: float, glide, sail; hurry, tear

see all synonyms and antonyms

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