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.
Officials said Rainey's home was the model for the scheme, with whole-house renovations aimed at lifting households clear of fuel poverty, rather than piecemeal upgrades to one aspect of a house seen in previous schemes.
From BBC
“But it’s so piecemeal — on this podcast or in that interview,” he continues.
From Los Angeles Times
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
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.
