Adjective step by step has 1 sense
  1. bit-by-bit, in small stages, piecemeal, step-by-step, stepwise - one thing at a time
    Antonym: sudden (indirect, via gradual)
,Adverbial step by step has 2 senses
  1. gradually, bit by bit, step by step - in a gradual manner; "the snake moved gradually toward its victim"
  2. stepwise, step by step - proceeding in steps; "the voltage was increased stepwise"
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