徐々に

じょじょに【徐々に】

slow(ly); gradually; by (slow) degrees; 〔少しずつ〕 by insensible degrees [transitions]; little by little; step by step.

●徐々に上昇[下降]する make a slow [gradual] ascent [descent]

・徐々に敵に近づいていく little by little approach closer to the enemy

・(病気が)徐々に進行する make a slow advance

・何段階かにわけて徐々に体を運動に慣らしていく get one's body used to an exercise a little at a time by dividing it into several steps.

●やぶの中を徐々に進んでいった. We moved forward slowly through the bushes.

・収益は徐々に悪化していった. Our profits gradually grew worse and worse.