inch
noun
a unit of length, 1/12 (0.0833) foot, equivalent to 2.54 centimeters. in.
had inched
-
past perfectof inch.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The 30-year rate had inched back up to 6.07% as of Tuesday, according to Mortgage News Daily.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 13, 2026
Though rough sleeping remained steady last year, it had inched upward over the three years of the study.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025
She, too, had inched through days when all the world’s laughter went silent and its beauty was lost.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 31, 2023
Wednesday’s customs data showed June imports had inched up 1.0% from a year earlier, slowing from May’s 4.1% gain, weighed down by the lockdown-induced slackening in commodity imports and subdued domestic consumption.
From Reuters ● Jul. 13, 2022
She had inched herself into the process, like a caterpillar.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
