Synonyms of inch

inch 1 of 2

noun

ˈinch 

1

as in step

a very small distance or degree

give them an inch, and they'll take a mile

Synonyms & Similar Words

• step
• neck
• bit
• hair
• ace
• hairbreadth
• hairline
• shouting distance
• hop, skip, and jump
• smidgen
• iota
• stone's throw
• particle
• trifle
• jot
• minim
• crumb
• mite
• dab
• trace

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mile
• long haul
• infinity
• country mile
• light-year

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

• stage
• step
• chapter
• point
• phase
• place
• degree
• grade
• cut
• side
• peg
• amount
• notch
• angle
• aspect
• facet
• measure
• plane
• increment
• decrement

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

• height
• stature
• altitude
• elevation
• rise
• highness
• tallness
• loftiness

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

• encroach
• worm
• snake
• creep
• invade
• sneak
• impinge
• intrude
• infringe
• entrench
• overrun
• overstep
• overshoot
• overreach
• overpass

2

as in to drag

to move slowly

the car inched carefully across the snow-covered causeway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drag
• crawl
• creep
• snail
• shuffle
• poke
• limp
• ooze
• nose
• slouch
• creak (along)
• plod
• trudge
• lumber
• tramp
• shamble

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• race
• speed
• fly
• float
• sail
• glide
• zip
• tear
• whiz
• hurry

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inch

Noun

Just a fraction of an inch can separate a player from hitting a flyball to left field and, say, tying a franchise record for career home runs. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026

Things aren’t bad in the back seat either; thanks to the wheelbase there’s 39 inches (991 mm) of rear leg room, and the occupants have another couple of USB-C ports to keep their gadgets charged. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026

Verb

Relief from heat is anticipated by Wednesday and Thursday, when the high temperature is forecast to inch down into the mid-80s. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026

In stock markets abroad, indexes inched higher in Europe following a stronger finish in Asia. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Phrases Containing inch

• inch by inch
• within an inch of