An increment means a small, measured amount by which something increases. When you save your allowance in increments of five dollars each week, you're adding the same amount regularly. When a video game character gains experience in tiny increments, they grow stronger bit by bit rather than all at once.

The word suggests gradual, steady growth rather than sudden jumps. A thermometer might show temperature rising in one-degree increments. A fundraising thermometer at school might fill up in hundred-dollar increments as donations come in. Scientists often adjust their experiments in careful increments to see exactly what changes.

Incremental describes this step-by-step approach. Incremental progress means improving slowly but surely, like getting better at piano through daily practice rather than expecting to master a piece overnight. Each small increment adds up: a student who improves their math skills in tiny increments throughout the year might look back in June and realize they've learned an enormous amount.