piecemeal
piecemeal — adverb
1. in small separate stages, with each part dealt with on its own instead of throug
in small separate stages, with each part dealt with on its own instead of through one complete plan.
The city repaired the old market piecemeal after several budget cuts.
pattern: do something piecemeal
Over ten years, the school grew piecemeal as new rooms were added.
development happens in separate additions
The family sold the farm piecemeal to pay off their debts.
Rules were introduced piecemeal, so staff kept missing important changes.
Instead of rebuilding at once, the bridge was fixed piecemeal.
- gradually
more neutral and often suggests a smooth change rather than separate parts
- step by step
focuses on an ordered sequence, often with clearer planning
- bit by bit
more informal and common in everyday speech
- in stages
often suggests planned phases rather than a broken-up process
- systematically
emphasizes one connected method or plan
文法句型
do something piecemeal
develop piecemeal
用法筆記
Often used with verbs for repairing, changing, selling, or building. It suggests separate actions over time and often hints that the work lacks one clear overall plan.
常見錯誤
piecemeal — adjective
1. formed, done, or improved through separate small actions at different times, rat
formed, done, or improved through separate small actions at different times, rather than as one complete planned whole.
The piecemeal repairs left the school building with three different roof colors.
collocation: piecemeal repairs
After years of piecemeal growth, the company finally moved into one office.
Residents criticized the piecemeal traffic plan around the crowded station.
The museum's piecemeal expansion created narrow halls between the older rooms.
A piecemeal response to flooding left several villages without clean water.
- incremental
can sound neutral or positive, especially when progress is planned
- fragmentary
more formal and emphasizes an incomplete or disconnected result
- ad hoc
stresses improvised decisions made as problems appear
- gradual
focuses on slowness of change, not on separated parts
- comprehensive
covering the whole matter rather than separate parts
- systematic
organized according to one clear method
- coordinated
shows that different parts work together
文法句型
piecemeal + noun
用法筆記
Usually placed before nouns such as approach, reform, repair, growth, or response. It is often slightly critical, suggesting disconnected action instead of one joined-up plan.