to inch

Examples

• All

• The embassy vehicle inched along, hindered by the thousands who gathered in central Berlin.

  Fiction book (1991)

• He had to inch his way along the narrow ledge to avoid falling into the ravine below.

• But you can inch it a little bit.

• You notice that if one is reasonably easy to do, I'm going to inch that foot forward.

• I felt you inching towards the door.

  Boyfriend Killer (2017)

• She inches her way to the door.

  Little Monsters (1989)

• As I discussed the court with the adults, several children inched forward to listen.

  Academic text (2007)

• Only the elderly couple who inched their way through the crowd did not smile.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Down on the tracks, he saw a sleek red-and-black train inching toward the station.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Nevertheless, political stabilization inched forward in the 1990s, and investment accelerated, especially in agriculture and the maquila sector.

  Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

E

to edge

vsto inch

10 3.9

To move slowly and carefully in a particular direction

is general slow movement or progress without strong carefulness focus

I

to inch up

vsto inch

5 4.2

To go up slowly in small amounts

is slow gradual movement in a direction rather than a rise in amount

I

to inch forward

vsto inch

4 3.4

To move forward very slowly by a short distance

is broader slow progress and not limited to physical movement

I

to inch along

vsto inch

1 3.5

To move forward very slowly in small steps

is general slow progress without extra emphasis on carefulness

Antonyms

R

to race

91 1.0

To move or work very quickly to reach a goal

D

to dash

73 1.0

To move very quickly to reach a place

Idioms

E

every inch

• Informal

7 4.2

Completely in every way possible

I

inch by inch

7 3.7

Move forward slowly in very small steps

B

to budge an inch

• Informal

1 7.8

Refuse to change an opinion or position at all

G

give an inch and take a mile

• Informal

7.3

Allowing a small favor makes someone try to take much more than you wanted

Phrasal Verbs

I

to inch up

5 4.2

To go up slowly in small amounts

I

to inch forward

4 3.4

To move forward very slowly by a short distance

I

to inch along

1 3.5

To move forward very slowly in small steps

I

to inch back

1 4.9

To move slowly and carefully backward in very small steps

Compounds

S

square inch

• US

22 1.4

A measure of area equal to a square one inch on each side

P

pounds per square inch

• Specialized

7 3.4

A unit that measures pressure equal to one pound of force on one square inch

C

cubic inch

• US

4 3.0

A measure of space equal to a cube with sides one inch long

C

column inch

• Jargon

2 6.2

A measure of ad or text space in a newspaper one column wide and one inch deep

B

bits per inch

• Specialized

5.1

A measure of how many bits are stored in each inch of a tape or disk

A

acre inch

• Specialized

7.0

An amount of water that covers one acre of land to a depth of one inch

I

inch tracker

• Neologism

7.2

A tool that shows small progress over time to keep you motivated

I

inch-perfect

6.8

Very exact in size, position, or timing

How Fast

sprint

55 2.1

to run

∞ 1.0

to walk

∞ 1.0

to inch

45 3.0

to creep

155 2.5

crawl

23 1.2

Surface Forms

Etymology