次第に (しだいに)gradually (progress into a state); in sequence; in order

次第に, its kanji, and other words that share them.Open this graph

Kanji in 次第に

次官じかんvice-minister; undersecretary
事務次官じむじかんpermanent vice-president; undersecretary
次期じきnext term; next period
次々つぎつぎin succession; one by one
次長じちょうvice-chief; vice-director
二次にじsecond
次回じかいnext time (occasion)
政務次官せいむじかんdeputy minister; assistant minister
第一歩だいいっぽfirst step
第三者だいさんしゃthird party; third person
第一人者だいいちにんしゃleading person; foremost figure
第二次世界大戦だいにじせかいたいせんSecond World War; World War II
第一線だいいっせんthe front (of a battlefield); forefront
第一声だいいっせいfirst words said (e.g. when meeting someone); first thing out of one's mouth
第三国だいさんごくa third country
次第しだいdepending on

See how 次第に connects to the rest of Japanese.