little by little

adverb

Synonyms of little by littlenext
: by small degrees or amounts : gradually

Synonyms of little by little

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Examples of little by little in a Sentence

little by little, we pieced together the jigsaw puzzle
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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.
Doing a job little by little — or styling to-do list tasks that way — has been more effective than anticipating it with the all-or-nothing thinking that can make responsibilities feel daunting. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 At first determined to capture him, little by little Araí starts to understand, and eventually, to identify with the villain. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026 The mother shares portions of the stew with family and friends as a kind of birth announcement, and then consumes the rest little by little over several months. — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2026 And little by little, Venezuela slipped off the front pages — even though, for millions of people, the work of rebuilding is just getting started. — Cristina Guevara, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 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

Rhymes for little by little

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Browse Nearby Words

little bustard
little by little
little casino
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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 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

little by little

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