little by little

adverb
UK: /ˈlɪtl̩ baɪ ˈlɪtl̩/
US: /ˈlɪtl̩ baɪ ˈlɪtl̩/

  1. Gradually; happening or developing in small stages over a period of time.

    1. Little by little, I started to feel better after being sick.
    2. The community, little by little, began to rebuild after the devastating hurricane swept through the coast.

  2. In small amounts or degrees; bit by bit.

    1. I'm learning French little by little.
    2. The organization, little by little, improved their fundraising strategies, resulting in greater financial success.

Synonyms

slowly by degrees
little by little idiom

  1. A slow, gradual process or progression.

    1. Little by little does the trick.
    2. We achieved success little by little, celebrating each milestone to keep us motivated throughout the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "little by little" in English means: Gradually; happening or developing in small stages over a period of time., In small amounts or degrees; bit by bit..

The phonetic transcription of "little by little" is /ˈlɪtl̩ baɪ ˈlɪtl̩/ in British English and /ˈlɪtl̩ baɪ ˈlɪtl̩/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "little by little": slowly, by degrees.

Example usage of "little by little": "Little by little, I started to feel better after being sick.". More examples on the page.