bit by bit

B b

Definitions of bit by bit words

phrase bit by bit If something happens bit by bit, it happens in stages. 3
noun bit by bit gradually 3
noun bit by bit little by little; gradually 3
noun bit by bit a small piece or quantity of anything: a bit of string. 1
noun bit by bit a short time: Wait a bit. 1
noun bit by bit Informal. an amount equivalent to 12½ U.S. cents (used only in even multiples): two bits; six bits. 1

before 1000

One of the 6% oldest English words

before 1000; Middle English bite, Old English bita bit, morsel; cognate with German Bissen, Old Norse biti. See bite

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

by degrees — If something happens by degrees, it happens slowly and gradually.
gradually — taking place, changing, moving, etc., by small degrees or little by little: gradual improvement in health.
piecemeal — piece by piece; one piece at a time; gradually: to work piecemeal.
inch by inch — a unit of length, 1/12 (0.0833) foot, equivalent to 2.54 centimeters.
inchmeal — by inches; inch by inch; little by little.