adverb
1. a little bit at a time
-
the research structure has developed piecemeal
• Syn: ↑piecemeal, ↑bit by bit, ↑in stages
2. by a short distance
-
they moved it by inches
• Syn: ↑by inches, ↑by small degrees
* * *
GRADUALLY, slowly, by degrees, by stages, step by step, bit by bit, progressively; subtly, imperceptibly.
→ little
* * *
adverb : by small degrees or amounts : a little at a time : gradually
little by little they got to know each other
added the water little by little
* * *
little by little or (archaic)
● little
* * *
little by little phrase
very gradually
Little by little his eyes adjusted to the light.
Main entry: little
* * *
little by little the money dried up
* * *
little by little
: by small steps or amounts : ↑gradually
Little by little, he got better.
The protest gathered strength little by little.
I got to know them little by little.
• • •
Main Entry: ↑little
* * *
ˌlittle by ˈlittle idiom
•
Little by little the snow disappeared.
•
His English is improving little by little.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.