inch

¹ American  

[inch] / ɪntʃ /

noun

1. a unit of length, 1/12 (0.0833) foot, equivalent to 2.54 centimeters. in.

2. a very small amount of anything; narrow margin.

   to win by an inch;

   to avert disaster by an inch.

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verb (used with or without object)

inches, present (3rd person singular) inched, past participle, past inching present participle

1. to move by inches or small degrees.

   We inched our way along the road.

idioms

1. every inch, in every respect; completely.

   That horse is every inch a thoroughbred.

2. within an inch of, nearly; close to.

   He came within an inch of getting killed in the crash.

3. by inches,

   1. narrowly; by a narrow margin.

      escaped by inches.

   2. Also inch by inch. by small degrees or stages; gradually.

      The miners worked their way through the narrow shaft inch by inch.

inch ² American  

[inch] / ɪntʃ /

noun

Scot.

1. a small island near the seacoast.

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inch ¹ British  

/ ɪntʃ /

noun

1. a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot or 0.0254 metre

2. meteorol

   1. an amount of precipitation that would cover a surface with water one inch deep

      five inches of rain fell in January

   2. a unit of pressure equal to a mercury column one inch high in a barometer

3. a very small distance, degree, or amount

4. in every way; completely

   he was every inch an aristocrat

5. gradually; little by little

6. very close to

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verb

1. to move or be moved very slowly or in very small steps

   the car inched forward

2. to defeat (someone) by a very small margin

inch ² British  

/ ɪntʃ /

noun

1. a small island

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inch Scientific  

/ ĭnch /

1. A unit of length in the US Customary System equal to 1/12 of a foot (2.54 centimeters).

2. See Table at measurement

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inch More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing inch

• by inches
• every inch
• give an inch
• within an ace (inch) of

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Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have inched
  perfect
• has inched
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am inching
  progressive 1st person singular
• is inching
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been inching
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• inches
  singular 3rd person
• have been inching
  perfect progressive
• are inching
  progressive
• inching
  participle

Past

• had inched
  perfect
• were inching
  progressive plural
• was inching
  progressive singular
• had been inching
  perfect progressive
• inched
  participle
• inched
  simple

Future

• will inch
  simple
• will have inched
  perfect
• will have been inching
  perfect progressive
• will be inching
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of inch¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English inch(e), unch(e), enche, Old English ynce, from Latin uncia “twelfth part, inch, ounce”; see origin at ounce ¹

Origin of inch²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Scots Gaelic innse, genitive of innis “island,” Old Irish inis, cognate with Welsh ynys, Breton enez

Explanation

An inch is a small unit of measurement. Twelve inches makes one foot. You might get an inch of your hair cut off, or hem your jeans so they're an inch shorter. Some countries use centimeters and meters as units of measurement, but if you measure in inches, you can order a twelve inch pizza or print out three by five inch photos. When inch is used as a verb, it means "to creep slowly forward." The Old English version was ynce, from the Latin uncia, "a twelfth part."

Example Sentences

As modest as his account is, Lambert didn't give Zidane an inch and that was the platform for Dortmund to engineer a 3-1 win over the reigning champions.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

Parchment was too valuable to be squandered on a blank background; every inch that did not bear graphic information was trimmed away for use elsewhere.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

As for the more traditional living spaces, every inch was carefully considered and conceived with great attention to detail, from the “gourmet kitchen” to the great room, which features a stone fireplace sourced from Tibet.

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame senior JJ Harel was at his very best in the high jump, clearing 7 feet, 1 inch to win the Division 3 title and break the school and meet record.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

Christopher clambered up onto the sill and, inch by inch, lifted the window higher.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell