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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.

"And little by little, we saw real changes," she added.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

Since then, he’s been building up his bitcoin portfolio little by little, investing more money at least once every two weeks.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 7, 2026

Alcaraz stood at the back of court, telling himself "little by little, Charly, vamos" as he tried to find some energy late in the fourth set.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

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

With handkerchiefs and scarves heated steaming hot, little by little the ice was thawed from their bodies.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls