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
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Recent Examples of step-by-step
Her boyfriend—now fiance—Alec Olmstead gave her a step-by-step plan to turn her day around.
—
Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
The Raine family also claimed in their lawsuit that the bot provided step-by-step instructions for the hanging method Adam used hours later.
—Rachel McRady, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Read on for Leake’s step-by-step tutorial for creating the perfectly imperfect waves, wavy-hair product recs, and more.
—Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 25 Aug. 2025
Scope the visual here, then follow along with step-by-step instructions below.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-by-step
Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
The Raine family also claimed in their lawsuit that the bot provided step-by-step instructions for the hanging method Adam used hours later.
—Rachel McRady, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Read on for Leake’s step-by-step tutorial for creating the perfectly imperfect waves, wavy-hair product recs, and more.
—Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 25 Aug. 2025
Scope the visual here, then follow along with step-by-step instructions below.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-by-step
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step-by-step
gradual
Adjective
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Temperatures are anticipated to remain above normal through today with a gradual cooling trend expected as the week progresses.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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The weather service said gradual weakening was likely Tuesday, and Fernand is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone Wednesday without making landfall.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Step-by-step.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step-by-step. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
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