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
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2025 Pour oil into a deep skillet or large Dutch oven to a depth of at least 3 inches; heat oil to 350°F. Jessica B. Harris, Southern Living, 7 July 2025
Verb
That remained the attraction for those who came after them through the art market’s collapse in the 1990s, even as the cost of living inched ever higher around them. Bob Morris, Vulture, 1 July 2025 That’s right, the state gas tax is rising again, inching up from $0.470 to $0.483 per gallon for regular and from $0.545 to $0.558 per gallon for diesel. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for inch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inch
Noun
  • After the fire is fully contained, the next step is to control it.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2025
  • This step is especially helpful if your towels are heavily soiled or have a strong musty odor.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • This dormant stage creates an information vacuum where uncertainty breeds anxiety, productivity plummets and talent begins eyeing the exits.
    Shannon Gabriel, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • During an event to celebrate the return of Heathers the Musical to the stage on Monday, June 30, in New York City, PEOPLE asked the King of Queens star, 60, how his viral performance with Jelly Roll in Columbus, Ohio, came to be.
    Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Chambray may be a humble fabric, but 100 Hands has elevated it to new heights with its Iced Washed Japanese Chambray Shirt.
    Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 7 July 2025
  • The river reached its second-highest height on record, surpassing a 1987 flood level, according to the National Weather Service.
    Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • Still, given enough time, some stars will encroach on our personal space.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 26 June 2025
  • If encroaching kids and pets are cramping your style, a mega mattress might help.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • That’s good for everyone, even expat journalists dragging their kids along to cover a new story.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 11 July 2025
  • The plucky little superdog drags Superman to the Fortress of Solitude, where he is treated by a posse of robots.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • This buttery-looking Free People sweater has a mock neck and a particularly autumnal hue, and these 45-percent-off Levi’s jeans balance out its stylishly slouchy look.
    Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 8 July 2025
  • An autopsy declared his cause of his death was asphyxia by neck compression.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • The chapter titles in Roya’s perspective are names of Britney Spears songs.
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
  • The next chapter in Carl Pei’s company begins today with the launch of Nothing’s first-ever pair of over-the-ear headphones.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • In particular, website owners and SEO experts wanted to know how Cloudflare planned to block Google's bot from scraping sites to fuel AI overviews without risking blocking the same bot from crawling for valuable search engine placements.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2025
  • Both are unable, under any circumstances, to resist crawling under someone doing a downward-facing dog.
    Erika Sjule, New Yorker, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inch. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

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