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

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

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
New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible. Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2025 The ongoing rains could add another one to two inches to the couple of inches that soaked much of South Florida. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
On the floor next to them, a small gray, white and yellow cockatiel named Russel is seen slowly inching closer while whistling a song. Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025 With BeyondMimic, that vision inches closer to becoming everyday technology. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inch
Noun
  • Follow the steps below to safely clean your laptop screen and restore its streak-free shine.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Individuals with troublesome tax histories should seek advice on potential exposure and consider remedial steps.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Hart worked in both television and on Broadway, with her stage credits including the revivals of The Heiress (1976) and Design for Living (1984), as well as the premiere production of Tom Stoppard's 1977 play Dirty Linen & New-Found-Land, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.
    Vandana Pawa, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • During the annual Rhythm & Roots Reunion festival, Shanghai is the first to set up a stage for performing bands.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Heeled mules are the ideal way to take both your style and your feet (literally) to new heights.
    Amber Cardullo, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Recently, however, both teams have elevated themselves to greater heights.
    Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The claustrophobic action inside the bus is played with urgency and heart, engulfed in the darkness of smoke and the red glow of the encroaching fire.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 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
  • The cousin tried to drag Guzman away, and saw the shooter walk back inside the house.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Mitchell was then dragged outside to the valet area, and a female Hyatt employee grabbed a broomstick and struck Mitchell with it.
    Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • With his neck tattoos and a goal celebration based on an anime character, Igor Jesus is a hard man to miss.
    Paul Taylor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The Love Island star also added red opera gloves and a neck scarf.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Watch Thelma on Hulu Kinds of Kindness Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, this 2024 dark dramedy anthology is told across three loosely interwoven chapters, each exploring characters who take extraordinary measures to demonstrate their love to someone else.
    Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • At that point, a new Border War chapter was all but complete, and this one came with huge moments, plot twists, momentum swings, the works.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On Wednesday, a similar scene closely followed as the funeral procession for Kansas City, Kansas, police officer Hunter Simoncic crawled along through the highways and streets in the community Simoncic worked to keep safe.
    Emily Curiel, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Eby crawled across a ladder over the water to the vehicle, then crawled back with the child on his back, the video shows.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inch. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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