inch by inch

phrase

: very gradually or slowly

Examples of inch by inch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The museum could clip the tapestry to a rail, then feed it into the paravent inch by inch; when the whole thing was transferred, the huge zigzag could be folded up—with the tapestry secured between layers of padding—then turned on its side. — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

The warm freshwater was moving up inch by inch toward my thighs, then to my waist, then to my chin. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inch by inch

• bullfinch
• goldfinch
• cinch
• finch
• flinch
• lynch
• pinch
• synch
• winch