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Definitions

little by little

ADJECTIVE
piecemeal
Synonyms
STRONGEST
gradual
WEAK
at intervals by fits and starts fragmentary intermittent interrupted little-by-little partial patchy spotty step-by-step
ADVERB
bit by bit
Synonyms
WEAK
by degrees drop by drop grade by grade gradually in stages inch by inch inchmeal piecemeal step by step
ADVERB
by degrees
Synonyms
WEAK
a little at a time bit by bit continuously drop by drop gradually in small doses inch by inch piece by piece steadily
ADVERB
gradually
Synonyms
STRONGEST
constantly continuously deliberately gently increasingly moderately progressively regularly steadily
WEAK
bit by bit by degrees by installments imperceptibly in small doses inch by inch perceptibly piece by piece piecemeal sequentially serially step by step successively unhurriedly
Antonyms
WEAK
abruptly fastly intermittently suddenly
ADVERB
one by one
Synonyms
WEAK
gradually in succession individually one at a time separately singly step by step
ADVERB
partially
Synonyms
STRONGEST
moderately partly somewhat
WEAK
by degrees by installments fractionally halfway in part in some measure not wholly piece by piece piecemeal to a certain degree to a certain extent
Antonyms
WEAK
completely totally wholly
ADVERB
partly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
at least partially slightly somewhat
WEAK
at best at most at worst bit by bit by degrees carelessly halfway in a general way in bits and pieces in part in some measure in some ways inadequately incompletely insufficiently measurably not entirely not fully not strictly speaking not wholly notably noticeably piece by piece piecemeal relatively so far as possible to a certain degree to a certain extent up to a certain point within limits
Antonyms
WEAK
completely totally wholly

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 hardest part is coming back from an injury and preparing mentally for matches. The more minutes you play, the better, and that increases your confidence and helps you improve little by little."

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

The reason this works is that you do the saving part, little by little, and then the magic of compounding interest does the rest.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

It calls it a capital investment, and deducts it from earnings little by little.

From Barron's • Dec. 26, 2025

Like the rich man who lost his money, it happened to me little by little then all at once.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

Most of the world’s great cities have grown haphazardly, little by little, in response to the needs of the moment; very rarely is a city planned for the remote future.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan