bit by bit

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

bit by bit
    adv 1: a little bit at a time; "the research structure has
           developed piecemeal" [syn: {piecemeal}, {little by
           little}, {bit by bit}, {in stages}]
    2: in a gradual manner; "the snake moved gradually toward its
       victim" [syn: {gradually}, {bit by bit}, {step by step}]

from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

25 Moby Thesaurus words for "bit by bit":
      by degrees, by inches, by inchmeal, by slow degrees, by snatches,
      degreewise, drop by drop, foot by foot, gradatim, grade by grade,
      gradually, in detail, in driblets, in installments, in lots,
      in small doses, in snatches, inch by inch, inchmeal,
      little by little, part by part, piece by piece, piecemeal, slowly,
      step by step

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