incremental

[ in-kruh-men-tl, ing- ]

/ ˌɪn krəˈmɛn tl, ˌɪŋ- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR incremental ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

increasing or adding on, especially in a regular series: small, incremental tax hikes.

RELATED WORDS

additional, additive, cumulative

Nearby words

Origin of incremental

increment + -al¹

Related formsin·cre·men·tal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for incremental

Utilizing fear, or taking a reasoned approach to gradual, incremental change?
Jon Stewart Talks ‘Rosewater’ and the ‘Chickensh-t’ Democrats’ Midterm Massacre|Marlow Stern|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We also need, in incremental and experimental ways, to keep building up a real politics of climate change.
Climate Change Needs the Politics of the Impossible|Jedediah Purdy|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bower seems not to understand that all flight-testing is incremental.
Branson’s Galactic Obstacles: Tom Bower Puts a Damper on Virgin’s Space Flight Dreams|Clive Irving|January 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But in an age of sluggish consumer demand, any incremental increase is welcome.
Chinese Consumers Are Buying Cherries Directly From American Farmers|Kelsey Meany|August 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Never a renegade or table-pounder, he pushed for incremental change through quiet persuasion.
How Eric Holder Got His Chance to Overhaul Broken Sentencing System|Daniel Klaidman|August 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The overwhelming favorite is still the incremental machine called the Calcomp plotter.
On-Line Data-Acquisition Systems in Nuclear Physics, 1969|H. W. Fulbright et al.
Cognition supported the incremental evolution of machines through a vast array of applications.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin
A car was still, in some ways, the result of incremental progression from the horse-drawn carriage.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin
Allocation of resources within a system and strategies of co-evolution are seen as resources of incremental performance.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin
The growth of cities has, through real estate speculation and incremental income, made many of our millionaires.
Distributive Justice|John A. (John Augustine) Ryan

British Dictionary definitions for incremental

incremental

/ (ˌɪnkrɪˈmɛntəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, using, or rising by increments

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for incremental

incremental

adj.

1715, from increment + -al (1). Related: Incrementally.