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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to drag
to move slowly the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Up to 15 inches of rain is possible in areas with vulnerable terrain. — Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 14 July 2026 With a 38-inch vertical and an 8-foot-8 standing reach, Carr used his length and athleticism to lead Baylor with 45 blocks last season. — Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Verb
Royals manager Matt Quatraro announced that first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is inching closer to returning from his injury. — Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026 The Guajes de Ayala community had warned law enforcement that the cartel was closing in on their town and also shared videos of cartel drones hovering overhead and the location of cartel fighters inching closer to their homes on social media. — ABC News, 8 July 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
  • Some were finely cut feathers; others, more surprisingly, were denim in various washes that created a kind of dimensional pointillist effect unlike anything else photographed on the red steps of the Palais.
    — Amy Verner, Vogue, 6 July 2026
  • From bringing back college football to taking major steps with Madden franchise mode, the developer/publisher is delivering solid virtual gridiron experiences.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of step
Noun
  • For now, the technology remains firmly in the experimental stage.
    — Elsa Ohlen,Carolin Roth, CNBC, 18 July 2026
  • One of the corrective actions involves modifying the engine startup sequence on the Super Heavy booster during its flip maneuver after separating from the Starship upper stage a few minutes after liftoff.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
Definition of stage
Noun
  • As well, the machine's limited computer vision can’t address environmental situations like differing degrees of lighting conditions in outdoor courts, or varied ceiling heights in indoor gyms.
    — Shirl Leigh July 13, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
  • Featuring a subtle platform for extra height, soft fabric straps to prevent irritation, and an OrthoLite footbed to withstand long hours on your feet, these flip-flops are perfect for dressing up or down without having to compromise on comfort.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026
Definition of height
Verb
  • This may encroach on some of Cardinal Health's territory, but the company does a lot more than transport medicines from Point A to Point B.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 9 July 2026
  • The funk and rock sounds fight against ever-encroaching mud and hiss; pretty melodies are offset by punishing bass or rendered disorienting by creative panning in the mix.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026
Definition of encroach
Verb
  • The untethered AUVs hover above the seabed instead of dragging equipment across it, reducing sediment disturbance and limiting ecosystem disruption.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026
  • Overall, the plan is on par with a request the White House submitted to Congress last month, as the Iran war drags past four months.
    — Kevin Freking, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Definition of drag
Noun
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 July 2026
  • Many runners appeared completely unaware when bulls were breathing down their necks and, instead of trying to gore them, just shoved them out of the way.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
Definition of neck
Noun
  • Even the chapter in the book has hindsight knowledge applied, and the show makes sure to emphasize that the way the illness spread wasn’t known when Emily Henderson (Barrett Doss) tells Caleb (Kowen Cadorath).
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 July 2026
  • But Sawicky, who is not speaking on behalf of the DSA, said its successful chapters have included effective campaign operations, such as in New York City, where organizers have notched several wins in municipal, state and federal offices.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 July 2026
Definition of chapter
Verb
  • Tents As a teenager, crawling into a small A-frame tent was a rite of passage.
    — Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026
  • With fervent editing, careful scene geography, and assured direction, the walk before the run can be tense enough to send viewers crawling out of their seats, willing the fugitive onscreen to get a move on already.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
Definition of crawl

Phrases Containing inch

Browse Nearby Words

incestuous
inch
in charge
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inch. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on inch

Nglish: Translation of inch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All