inches 1 of 2

plural of inch
as in height
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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inches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of inch
1
as in encroaches
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 inches
Noun
There were also winds of 35 mph and 3 to 4 inches of snowfall, per WBZ-TV. Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025 Place cutouts 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025 The pants come in four inseam lengths, from 28 to 34 inches, and a wide range of fun colors. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025 Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025 Due to Melissa's slow pace, massive amounts of rain will fall on the island totaling 15 to 30 inches -- and up to 40 inches in localized areas. ABC News, 27 Oct. 2025 For eastern Cuba, storm total rainfall of 10 to 15 inches, with local amounts to 20 inches, is expected today through Wednesday resulting in life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding with numerous landslides. Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025 No injuries were reported, but investigators recovered two pieces of shrapnel measuring approximately one to two inches long. Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025 Fisher’s dad says the 13-year-old actor has grown four inches since she was cast; the costume department has already refitted her dress three times. Eliana Dockterman, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
The Aggies are not only College Football Playoff contenders — Saturday’s win inches them much closer to being a lock for the 12-team field — they should be taken seriously in the national title race. Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025 As Congress inches closer to a possible government shutdown, many federal services North Carolinians depend on might be disrupted. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025 Williams edged the Bills’ Josh Allen and Ravens’ Lamar Jackson for the honor, while Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa inches up one spot to 18th overall. Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025 With BeyondMimic, that vision inches closer to becoming everyday technology. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inches
Noun
  • Barcelona used a mix of zonal and man-marking but struggled when teams exploited their comparalative lack of height and physicality by using players in motion.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • These ones have a lug sole that offers extra height and more room for cushioned support.
    Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Apparently, our west block wall encroaches six feet into our neighbor’s back yard, which includes our swimming pool motor and related equipment.
    Christopher A. Combs, AZCentral.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • While a new generation of young singer-songwriters encroaches on country music’s old guard by the day, the Texas barnstormer has found his footing with a fan base hell-bent on capturing every moment Myers affords them.
    Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • However, the risk of adverse effects grows the longer a shutdown drags on.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
  • As the government shutdown drags on, Americans are turning more negative on Congress, according to new Gallup polling.
    Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Within the eyewall, total structural failure is likely, especially in higher elevation areas where wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains could be up to 30 percent stronger.
    MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
  • From November 11–14, leaders in media, marketing, entertainment, and tech will gather at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando for four days of conversation, connection, and cultural elevation at ADCOLOR 2025.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • When a storm crawls like this, rainfall piles up over the same towns for days.
    Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Everything except Eidra, who asks him not to leave and crawls into his arms.
    Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Meyers will continue being a name to watch as the deadline creeps closer.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The Japanese influence creeps in again with a matcha white chocolate chip cookie.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Who else pokes holes in this claim?
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Later in the episode, Kelce's cohost and brother, Jason Kelce, pokes fun at Lively's athleticism in a storyline that sees Bridget attend a soccer camp.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inches. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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