one by one

Idioms and Phrases

Also, one at a time . Individually in succession, as in The ducklings jumped into the pond one by one , or One at a time they went into the office . Formerly also put as one and one and one after one , this idiom dates from about a.d. 1000.

Example Sentences

The family hung on in their house as long as they could, but with explosions all around, shops closed and roads cut off one by one, they finally bowed to the inevitable.

From BBC

Eventually, Danny breaks down the door of the next building along and, one by one, he pulls the children to safety.

From BBC

But, one by one, procedural and legal challenges assured that those cases against Trump would not be tried until after the election.

From Los Angeles Times

Over martinis at Figaro, my friends pull out their lipsticks and glosses one by one.

From Los Angeles Times

In the past, the 23-year-old has declared she wants to "change the idol industry", breaking down its "strict standards one by one".

From BBC