little by little
Meaning
Gradually; in small steps over time rather than all at once.
Origin
From the literal idea of doing something in small amounts. Recorded in English for centuries; often paired with “bit by bit,” emphasizing gradual accumulation.
Notes
Neutral and common for gradual progress or change (learning, recovery, saving). Works in speech and writing; emphasizes steady small increments.
Examples
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Little by little, she rebuilt her confidence after the setback.
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The paint came off little by little as we scraped the old door.
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Little by little, our team is getting used to the new software.
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He paid off his debt little by little instead of all at once.
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Little by little, the sky brightened as the storm moved away.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Functions as an adverbial phrase. Common placements: sentence-initial (“Little by little, …”) or after the verb (“He improved little by little”). Usually fixed as “little by little” (not *small by small*).
Synonyms
- gradually
- bit by bit
- step by step
- piecemeal
- incrementally
Antonyms
- all at once
- suddenly
- in one go
- overnight