Meaning & use

piecemeal

adverb·Advanced

Done or achieved gradually, in separate parts rather than all at once.

See it in a sentence

The old house was renovated piecemeal over almost a decade.

Reforms were introduced piecemeal, one small change at a time, to avoid public backlash.

A note on using this word

Piecemeal can suggest an approach that is disorganized or lacking an overall plan, not just simply gradual.

Words with a similar meaning

graduallybit by bit

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

wholesaleall at once

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “piecemeal”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.