incremental

American  

[in-kruh-men-tl, ing-] / ˌɪn krəˈmɛn tl, ˌɪŋ- /

adjective

1. increasing or adding on, especially in a regular series.

   small, incremental tax hikes.

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incremental British  

/ ˌɪnkrɪˈmɛntəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, using, or rising by increments

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Other Word Forms

• incrementally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of incremental

First recorded in 1675–85; increment + -al ¹

Explanation

If you are making incremental progress in math, you are moving slowly but steadily forward. Incremental describes regular, measurable movements that are usually small. Sometimes a basketball team might make a huge improvement, like a team that is 32-50 one year and then 50-32 the next. More often, progress is small and tiny — incremental. Anytime something is changing in any way, and the change is slow and steady, you can talk about incremental changes. A lot of life is like that. You might prefer to be making great or even miraculous progress, but incremental gains are better than none at all.

Example Sentences

“It’s this cumulative effect of these incremental cost increases and complicating factors. That can be a huge blow at a time when you’re already really vulnerable.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

But while the move is “an incremental positive” for Nvidia, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst C.J.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

That is one of the heaviest lifts in global geopolitics, and compromises and incremental progress are a feature of democracy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

"This is the definition of incremental change," Phillips said.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Change is gradual and incremental, and when one lives in the midst of one’s family, one rarely notices differences in them.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela