bit by bit

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bit by bit

"It's quite a processional experience because people have to go bit by bit through the tapestry," Lewis said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

And then to have that knocked out of you bit by bit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026

Another acquaintance said that Pauline would wear two sets of clothes out of the house so that she could sneak her wardrobe out, bit by bit, without Pusser noticing.

From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2025

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2025

We continue to detoxify him bit by bit.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins