inch 1 of 2

1
2
as in stage
an individual part of a process, series, or ranking inch by inch, we're making progress toward our fund-raising goal

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3
as in height
inches plural the distance of something or someone from bottom to top made the most of her inches by standing on her tiptoes to reach the top shelf

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inch

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to encroach
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits every year the water inches further up the embankments, threatening to permanently engulf the island city

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2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inch
Noun
The storms could bring quarter-sized hail (1 inch) and wind gusts of up to 65 mph. Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2025 Small measurements, big impacts While land sinking less than an inch per year might not seem like much on paper, small shifts in land can have big effects. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
Verb
But suddenly, Johnny was in front of me and, inching back on his board, reached his toes to the nose of mine, hooked them on, and guided me in a two-man train out to sea. Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 12 May 2025 Is Quietly Plotting To Blow Up The Bitcoin Price And Crypto Market So no less than two years and probably inching closer to two and a half. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for inch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inch
Noun
  • The official opening on the weekend completed the first step, but a lot remains to be done.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
  • Minneapolis agreed to substantial changes to its police department, including steps to rein in the use of force, bolster training and address discriminatory practices.
    Ernesto Londoño, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • How well Trump and his congressional leadership team handle that tool this year to reshape and redirect the federal government will set a powerful narrative for the first stage of Trump's second term.
    Ron Elving, NPR, 17 May 2025
  • Here is how the Mariners (24-19) will line up for Game 2: Matt Waldron’s pitstop Still in the early stages of building up, right-hander Matt Waldron (oblique) is in San Diego to throw a bullpen in front of the big-league staff on Sunday.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • Yet arguably his greatest achievement was to raise the bar of the entire Premier League, pushing rivals like Manchester City to new heights in order for Pep Guardiola’s men to finish above Liverpool.
    Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • To prevent the display from looking boring, create visual contrast through elements other than color—just varying the height, size, shape, and texture of the objects will create an eye-catching vignette. 3.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • As the Nazis encroached on Czechoslovakia in 1938, the Löw-Beers fled.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025
  • As human settlements expanded on islands where the auk nested, the bird's habitat was further encroached upon.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Verb
  • Further afield is the prospect of an India-EU FTA, although that process has dragged on for a decade.
    Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • That dragged its stock down even though the company also reported a better profit for the latest quarter than expected.
    Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • The alleged attack involved Combs grabbing Morgan by the neck and throwing a wooden hanger that hit her head, Morgan said.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 21 May 2025
  • Here’s How To Keep Them In Place There’s nothing more irritating than looking in the bathroom mirror only to notice that the beautiful design of your necklace is actually on the backside of your neck, while the clasp is sitting front and center.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • After months of escalating tariffs between the world’s two largest economies, the trade war between the U.S. and China is entering a new chapter – a steep reduction of their respective tariffs for 90 days as the two countries continue trade talk this week.
    Dian Zhang, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • This chapter begins on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • The woman crawled to her bathroom and pulled the emergency cord, then the facility staff called 911, deputies said.
    Olivia Lloyd, Sun Sentinel, 22 May 2025
  • Here, 15 of the softest sheets that will convince you that crawling into bed at 9 p.m. is equivalent to self-care.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inch. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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