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inch by inch

inch by inch
I i

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [inch bahy inch]
    • /ɪntʃ baɪ ɪntʃ/
    • /ɪntʃ baɪ ɪntʃ/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [inch bahy inch]
    • /ɪntʃ baɪ ɪntʃ/

Definitions of inch by inch words

  • noun inch by inch a unit of length, 1/12 (0.0833) foot, equivalent to 2.54 centimeters. 1
  • noun inch by inch a very small amount of anything; narrow margin: to win by an inch; to avert disaster by an inch. 1
  • idioms inch by inch by inches, narrowly; by a narrow margin: escaped by inches. Also, inch by inch. by small degrees or stages; gradually: The miners worked their way through the narrow shaft inch by inch. 1
  • idioms inch by inch every inch, in every respect; completely: That horse is every inch a thoroughbred. 1
  • idioms inch by inch within an inch of, nearly; close to: He came within an inch of getting killed in the crash. 1
  • adverb inch by inch gradually 1

Information block about the term

Origin of inch by inch

First appearance:

before 1000
One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; Middle English; Old English ynce < Latin uncia twelfth part, inch, ounce. See ounce1

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Inch by inch

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

inch by inch popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

inch by inch usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for inch by inch

adv inch by inch

  • regularly — at regular times or intervals.
  • increasingly — growing larger or greater; enlarging; augmenting.
  • constantly — not changing or varying; uniform; regular; invariable: All conditions during the three experiments were constant.
  • moderately — kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive, or intense: a moderate price.
  • gently — kindly; amiable: a gentle manner.

Antonyms for inch by inch

adv inch by inch

  • abruptly — sudden or unexpected: an abrupt departure.
  • intermittently — stopping or ceasing for a time; alternately ceasing and beginning again: an intermittent pain.
  • suddenly — happening, coming, made, or done quickly, without warning, or unexpectedly: a sudden attack.
  • fastly — Securely.

See also

Matching words

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