English Reference
Adverb

incrementally

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌɪnkɹəˈmɛntəˌɫi/ UK /ˌɪnkɹɪmˈɛntəli/ in·cre·men·tal·ly

adv.in small, steady steps over a long period of time. You use this when you want to show that progress is slow but sure.

adv.in a series of small, gradual steps. Often used to describe a process of change or improvement that occurs over an extended duration.


SIMPLE

The company plans to increase prices incrementally over the next year.

CONTEXTUAL

The software was updated incrementally, with each new feature being tested thoroughly before the next one was released.

COMPLEX

While the initial results were modest, the researchers noted that the data improved incrementally as the sample size grew and the variables were better controlled.

This was succeeded by a more effective vaccine, Shingrix, which uses newer vaccine technology and which in the UK is being made available incrementally to people aged 65-79 in a phased rollout.

The Guardian· 26 Aug 2026

Swift receives £2,026 in prize money, in keeping with the award’s tradition of increasing it incrementally each year since 2001.

The Guardian· 12 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated