little by little

adverb

Synonyms of little by littlenext
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And with each throw, Matt’s own place in the world was defined, little by little. Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026 The animator tries it, changes it, undoes it, and little by little the character comes alive. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 June 2026 Work on it all summer, adding to it little by little. Parents, 11 June 2026 Higher education officials have watched their pool of typical applicants dwindle little by little. Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for little by little

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

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Cite this Entry

“Little by little.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/little%20by%20little. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

little by little

adverb
: by small steps or amounts : gradually
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