# inch

/ˈɪntʃ/ (US) · /ˈɪntʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inch
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. unit of length

noun · CEFR B1 · American English · British English

a unit of length equal to 2.54 centimetres. There are 12 inches in one foot.

For teachers: a unit of linear measure in the imperial and US customary systems, equivalent to 1/12 of a foot or exactly 2.54 centimetres.

- The snow was at least six inches deep by the time we woke up.
- The carpenter measured the gap precisely, noting that it was exactly three-quarters of an inch wider than the replacement panel.

### 2. a very small distance

noun · CEFR B2

a very small distance or amount.

For teachers: a figurative measure representing an extremely small distance, degree, or margin.

- The car missed the wall by only an inch.
- The two runners were separated by barely an inch as they crossed the finish line, making it one of the closest races in history.

## Examples

- The screen is fifty inches wide.
- The hikers moved forward inch by inch as the mountain path became steeper and more dangerous.
- The negotiator refused to yield even an inch on the primary clause, knowing that any concession would undermine the entire legal framework of the agreement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.