by degrees

But by degrees, things will return to the way they were in an earlier time.

This led by degrees to a relationship with another human being.

I didn't want to break him in suddenly, but do it by degrees.

He raised his head from the wall and brought it by degrees to its former position.

He continued on and, by degrees, the others followed after him.

Both men knew that figure could be off by ten degrees either way.

We must make sure that the earth does not heat up by more than two degrees.

When the life left a person, it wasn't by degrees.

We did not set out to wage war by degree.

It was worth the pain, though: the power came to him by degrees.