step by step

Idioms  

1. By degrees, as in You'll have to go through this recipe step by step. This idiom transfers putting one foot in front of the other to other kinds of progress. [c. 1700]

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Example Sentences

“We want to push the technique step by step, from mice to rats to pigs to monkeys and then, hopefully, eventually to humans”—and then, perhaps, beyond the bounds of planet Earth.

From Scientific American

While the Ukrainian forces may still be hanging on, they have been pulling back step by step over the months and could be planning to retreat to more easily defended ground.

From New York Times

By noon and perhaps after a Bloody Mary, it's time to face the roux and so it goes step by step until your clothes and hair smell like all the aromas from the pot.

From Salon

“Like I said, it’s a step by step process.”

From Washington Times

"If previous talks had proceeded step by step ... before the leaders met, the inter-Korean relationship would have developed steadily, though at a snail's pace," Yoon said.

From Reuters

Related Words

• piecemeal