inch 1 of 2

noun

ˈinch How to pronounce inch (audio)
Definition of inchnext
1
as in step
a very small distance or degree give them an inch, and they'll take a mile

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in to drag
to move slowly the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Trim the broccoli stalks, leaving about 1 inch of the stalk intact. — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 Broil about 5 inches from heat source until jalapeños are charred on all sides, 12 to 14 minutes, turning occasionally. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
That stat inches closer to 100% among respondents living with a chronic condition. — Anisa Arsenault, HEALTH, 4 Aug. 2026 Yet when enough people veer from tradition—if only to inch their own life forward—a social movement begins. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inch
  1. step
  2. stage
  3. height
  4. encroach
  5. drag
  6. neck
  7. chapter
  8. crawl
Noun
  • April 20 – May 20 Steady steps make messy tasks feel manageable.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2026
  • That could allow crews to focus more heavily on decisions rather than manually coordinating every step of an unmanned aircraft’s mission.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of step
Noun
  • This extended to her closest competitors in the Tour, after Niewiadoma-Phinney accused Vollering’s teammate Célia Gery of boxing her in during the crucial penultimate stage.
    — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • That could remove a potentially costly stage from the production of semiconductor-quality material.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of stage
Noun
  • Some have done so successfully, others have struggled to reach such heights.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • These include a double-height great room featuring a bespoke light fixture that evokes a marine creature and a formal dining room anchored by a custom table measuring almost 20 feet long and topped with seafoam-green glass.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of height
Verb
  • In what his dad (Ed Harris) calls the decline of humanity, the club is being encroached on by pickleballers clamoring for more courts.
    — Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But the somatosensory cortex, the touch cortex, has like encroached upon it.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of encroach
Verb
  • Pourrain submitted a request for extension of his stay, was awaiting an appointment, the process dragged on for years, and in the meantime, he was granted a work permit and had a valid driver’s license.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But Beaman is quick to point out that people shouldn't simply head into the woods and start dragging things out themselves.
    — Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of drag
Noun
  • Prosecutors say after killing her children, Clancy cut her wrists and neck and jumped from a second-story window, leaving her partially paralyzed.
    — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Players on reserve lists include Micah Parsons (knee), tight end Luke Musgrave (neck), running back Chris Brooks (hamstring), long snapper Matt Orzech (calf), and defensive tackles Javon Hargrave (knee) and Jordon Reilly (Achilles).
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of neck
Noun
  • But for Tran’s family, the arrest revisited a painful, complicated chapter of their lives.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • This October, global K-pop sensation BTS will arrive in Santiago as part of their comeback world tour, marking the latest chapter in Latin America's growing embrace of Korean culture.
    — John Bartlett, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of chapter
Verb
  • And imagine the bear, cornered in an unfamiliar lair, seeing the light of the only exit blocked by this larger attacker that did not howl or bark, but crawled silently toward him through the addled dogs.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Tests on Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, Unitree’s G1 and Boston Dynamics’ Spot showed the robots could perform crawling, cartwheels, handstands, soccer kicks and other complex movements across different robotic body types.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of crawl

Phrases Containing inch

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incestuous
inch
in charge
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Cite this Entry

“Inch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inch. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on inch

Nglish: Translation of inch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inch

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