by small degrees, increments, or stages; gradually.
by completing one task or action at a time toward the accomplishment of a goal.
by taking one step after another with the feet, or at a slow, deliberate walking pace.
giving or involving one task or action at a time toward a goal.
happening or done by small degrees, increments, or stages; gradual.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Brokers are an anchor during turbulent times as they can help borrowers keep abreast of changes and be there step by step when going through a mortgage application," she said.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
In this framework, the brain does not rely only on a step by step flow of information.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026
"That is why we are doing it carefully, step by step -- for what we can predict," he said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
During the demolition, she writes, “I received pictures of the destruction step by step from people in DC. I could barely look.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
Searching step by step in faint light angling in from a high window, Jimmy spotted the familiar sight of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello home.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
I like to enjoy my noods in soup form, but you can also follow this step-by-step process for stir-fried noodles.
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026
At its annual developer conference, Microsoft Build, the group unveiled MAI-Thinking-1, its first "reasoning" model -- AI systems that break down problems step-by-step before responding, similar to offerings from OpenAI, Google or Anthropic.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
A step-by-step guide for where to put your money for your child’s future.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026
Let's break it down step-by-step, consider the potential fouls and what the VAR would be looking for.
From BBC ● May 11, 2026
Needless to say, artistic creation is too subtle and intimate an experience to permit an exact step-by-step description.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
