bit by bit

Idioms

Also, little by little. Gradually, by small degrees, slowly. For example, The squirrels dug up the lawn bit by bit, till we had almost no grass, or Little by little he began to understand what John was getting at. The first term was first recorded in 1849, although bit in the sense of “small amount” is much older; the variant dates from the 1400s.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She has since sold off her gold bit by bit to get by.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025

Their envy does pour out immediately but strains forth bit by bit, pressing through the narrow gaps in their bleached smiles.

From Salon • Feb. 16, 2025

The Federal Reserve is finally taking interest rates down bit by bit, adding some vigor to a sluggish investment environment.

From Slate • Nov. 12, 2024

"The playing style has changed bit by bit - they build up and press a bit more patiently now. It will be interesting to see how they maintain that."

From BBC • Oct. 27, 2024

I saved my city pants and burned them bit by bit to make charred cloth for the flint and steel.

From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023