piecemeal
Americanadverb
-
piece by piece; one piece at a time; gradually.
to work piecemeal.
-
into pieces or fragments.
to tear a letter piecemeal.
adjective
adverb
-
by degrees; bit by bit; gradually
-
in or into pieces or piece from piece
to tear something piecemeal
adjective
Etymology
Origin of piecemeal
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English pecemele; replacing Old English styccemǣlum, piece, -meal
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.
Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena told listeners that merging his Western railroad with Norfolk Southern’s East Coast network could convert thousands of piecemeal rail journeys into seamless end-to-end trips.
From Barron's
Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena told listeners that merging his Western railroad with Norfolk Southern’s East Coast network could convert thousands of piecemeal rail journeys into seamless end-to-end trips.
From Barron's
Still, lawmakers’ piecemeal approach to affordability thus far — focused on things like lower drug costs or city-run grocery stores — isn’t enough to solve problems that are now far-reaching.
From MarketWatch
That’s to ensure people don’t discuss valuations and the business piecemeal, which could potentially disadvantage some investors.
From Barron's
The piecemeal nature of hundreds of individual court rulings creates its own problems.
From Salon
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.
