little by little

adverb

: by small degrees or amounts : gradually

Examples of little by little in a Sentence

little by little, we pieced together the jigsaw puzzle
Recent Examples on the Web But little by little, as security and stability are restored, the need for weapons outside the control of the state and its institutions will disappear. Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2024 And then, little by little, I was also asked if could write an episode? Patrick Frater, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for little by little 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'little by little.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of little by little was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near little by little

Cite this Entry

“Little by little.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/little%20by%20little. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

little by little

adverb
: by small steps or amounts : gradually
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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