Synonyms of step-by-step

step-by-step

adjective

ˌstep-bī-ˈstep 

as in gradual

proceeding or changing by steps or degrees

the incessant step-by-step advance of the enemy's troops could no longer be resisted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gradual
• piecemeal
• incremental
• phased
• gradational
• tapered
• stepped
• progressive
• imperceptible
• decrescent
• inching
• increscent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sudden
• abrupt
• discontinuous
• dynamic
• acute
• sharp
• saltatory
• volatile
• changeable
• meteoric

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of step-by-step

Here’s your step-by-step guide for properly and quickly removing bathtub rings for a fresh-looking bathroom. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026

The American Red Cross offers an online Cat and Dog First Aid course with step-by-step demonstrations, photos, and videos covering choking, CPR, and other emergencies. — Cathy M. Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

The course is built to walk parents step-by-step through mastering budget-busting expenses like diapers, wipes, formula, and groceries while building a supportive community of like-minded moms. — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 31 July 2026

Their work becomes less about managing workflows step-by-step and more about defining intent, setting constraints and shaping outcomes. — Asanka Abeysinghe, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

See our step-by-step guide to rolling over a 401(k) for how that works. — USA Today, 24 July 2026

Arduous technical reviews, paperwork and rigid, step-by-step requirements can take months to work through. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Here are step-by-step instructions for staining a wood fence, including the necessary prep work and how to choose the best stain for the job. — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2026

Content creator Alexa Santos, known on for her viral recipes as @alexawhatsfordinner, tried her hand at the frozen watermelon dessert, sharing a video of her step-by-step guide that has since amassed more than 32,000 likes. — Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 10 July 2026