slowly but surely

phrase

: by making slow but definite progress
used to stress that something is happening or being done even though it is not happening or being done quickly
We're getting the work done, slowly but surely.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slowly but surely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slowly%20but%20surely. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster