stepwise
Americanadverb
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in a steplike arrangement.
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Music. from one adjacent tone to another.
The melody ascends stepwise.
adjective
adjective
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arranged in the manner of or resembling steps
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music proceeding by melodic intervals of a second
adverb
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with the form or appearance of steps; step by step
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music in a stepwise motion
Etymology
Origin of stepwise
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.
"We've come far, but not far enough," Jorgensen added in Tuesday's news conference, adding that measures to phase out Russian energy would be "stepwise and gradual" to minimise the impact on the EU.
From BBC ● May 6, 2025
Even before the meeting began Monday, South Korean Environment Minister Kim Wan-sup was trying to dial back expectations, telling reporters: “I believe it may be more realistic to pursue stepwise measures.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 27, 2024
After that, it was an inevitable stepwise return to the everyday stuff of living.
From Slate ● Nov. 26, 2023
In general, mutations in multiple genes accumulate in a stepwise manner when normal cells become cancerous.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 22, 2023
From the precursors of food production already practiced by hunter-gatherers, it developed stepwise.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
