Merit increases have been steadily inching down, from 4.2 percent in 1993 to a projected 4 percent next year, Buck Consultants said.

The news on the core rate, which has been inching steadily downward, cheered investors, who continued a stock rally that started midweek.

He stared in bewilderment at the mutinous limb, which was steadily inching its way along the edge of the table.

The leading edge of the carpet inched south steadily.

The home team, however, has been steadily and splendidly inching the Balanchine Celebration toward a chronological finish.

They steadily inched apart.

The reporters' questions kept coming, but Jack and his escorts inched steadily up the granite steps, past the video cameras that taped their every movement.

Many people were steadily inching downtown, not imagining anything worse was to come.

Behind the drow, the other dark elves were steadily inching toward Entreri, gaining confidence as they watched their companion hold the assassin's devilish attacks at bay.

The silencer inched steadily toward my face.