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GRADUALLY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

GRADUALLY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

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Meaning of gradually in English

graduallyadverb uk

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/ˈɡrædʒ.u.ə.li/ us

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/ˈɡrædʒ.u.ə.li/

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B2 slowly over a period of time or a distance: Gradually, she realized that he wasn't telling her the truth. The bank slopes gradually down to the river.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

slowlyslowlyI got out of bed and walked slowly to the door.slowGo slower! I can't keep up.at a slow paceThey are easy hikes, done at a slow pace.at a slow speedYou only have to hit a pedestrian at a slow speed to kill them.at slow rateThe economy grew at a slower rate during the second half of the year.

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More examplesFewer examplesThe sound of his footsteps gradually died away.The bank slopes gradually down to the river.The painful memories gradually receded in her mind.As the plot unfolds, you gradually realize that all your initial assumptions were wrong.Those who disagreed with the director's viewpoint were gradually edged out of the company.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Slow and moving slowly

(as) slow as molasses idiom

at a snail's pace idiom

by and by idiom

by degrees idiom

claw your way (somewhere) idiom

crawl

float

in ones and twos idiom

inch by inch idiom

infiltrate

infiltration

jog

labour

lag

sluggish

sluggishly

sluggishness

snail

steadily

wander

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(Definition of gradually from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of gradually

gradually

Small lanes were gradually added to demarcate different sections and also to connect them as an organic whole.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Over the next three weeks, the effect gradually returned.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Servants were gradually replaced by other types of labour with work duties as crofters or different types of paid workers.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Formal political influence over policy increased gradually over the whole period at the expense of technical influence, and social objectives were given priority.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Imports of raw cotton only gradually took up the slack-and then only in quite erratic fashion.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The voltage pulse was gradually increased until some and the experiof the pulses were turbulent.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The last particles merely cool gradually and never react.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The scale length becomes long furthermore, the total beam energy gradually decreases.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The water level (decreased/was decreased) gradually. 12.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The dry ice gradually sublimed throughout the 2-d period, and had disappeared by the time samples were removed from the refrigerator.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Both genres have been popular in the past, but have been gradually replaced by popular music.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Gradually from then he became very withdrawn, and he stopped reading the papers.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Sufficient practice may enable the poor readers to gradually store the orthographic form into memory and rely on direct recognition at the time of posttesting.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

If we gradually reduce the degree to which this value is realized, we shall eventually reach a point at which it is lost.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

After having more than doubled, to 1,780,000, by the mid-eighteenth century, it gradually decreased to 1,520,000 over the next hundred years.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of gradually?

B2

Translations of gradually

in Chinese (Traditional)

逐步地，逐漸地, 平緩地…

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in Chinese (Simplified)

逐步地，逐渐地, 平缓地…

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in Spanish

poco a poco, gradualmente…

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in Portuguese

gradualmente, pouco a pouco, gradativamente…

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in Marathi

in Japanese

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in Catalan

in Dutch

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हळूहळू…

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徐々に, だんだん, 次第（しだい）に…

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azar azar, zamanla…

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progressivement, graduellement…

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gradualment…

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langzamerhand…

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மெதுவாக ஒரு காலப்பகுதியில் அல்லது தூரத்தில்…

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(समय या दूरी में) धीरे-धीरे…

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(સમય અથવા અંતરમાં) ધીમે ધીમે…

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gradvist…

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successivt, undan för undan…

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beransur-ansur…

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allmählich…

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litt etter litt, gradvis…

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تدریجاً, رفتہ رفتہ…

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поступово, послідовно…

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постепенно…

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క్రమంగా…

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تَدْريجيّاً…

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ধীরে ধীরে, সময়ে বা দূরত্বে…

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postupně…

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secara berangsur-angsur…

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อย่างทีละน้อย…

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dần dần, từ từ…

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stopniowo…

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서서히…

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gradualmente…

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Gradually Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Gradually Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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Est. 1828

Dictionary

Definition

adjective

noun

adjective

2

adjective

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

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gradual

1 of 2

adjective

grad·​u·​al

ˈgra-jə-wəl 

-jəl,

ˈgraj-wəl

Synonyms of gradual

1

: moving, changing, or developing by fine or often imperceptible degrees

2

: proceeding by steps or degrees

gradually

adverb

gradualness

noun

gradual

2 of 2

noun

often capitalized

1

: a book containing the choral parts of the Mass

2

: a pair of verses (as from the Psalms) proper after the Epistle in the Mass

Synonyms

Adjective

gradational

incremental

phased

piecemeal

step-by-step

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of gradual in a Sentence

Adjective

We noticed a gradual change in temperature.

The hospital has made gradual improvements in health care.

Recent Examples on the WebAdjective

But the slowdown has been more gradual for single-family homes than for apartments.

—Ben Casselman, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024

Reentry is expected to be just as gradual, touching down on the ship Marine Spaceport Voyager that also served as the launch vessel, due to be completed in the next few weeks.

—Laurie Werner, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

Cloudy early, then gradual clearing, with a high near 37.

—Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2024

Cons The effects are gradual and very subtle — this doesn’t dramatically sculpt or smooth fine lines in the short term.

—Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024

Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 24.

—The Courier-Journal, 15 Feb. 2024

The report also finds that while oil demand will peak before the end of this decade and gas demand around a decade later, the following transition from hydrocarbons will be gradual, primarily due to the slow pace at which oil-and-gas-consuming technologies will be replaced.

—Andrea Guerzoni, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024

That human-animal connection is echoed in Lia’s gradual softening toward her flaky young companion, despite doing her best to ditch him early on.

—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024

The rollout will be gradual, starting May 1 online in the U.S. and Canada before expanding to key markets.

—Doug Ferguson, Quartz, 13 Feb. 2024

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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gradual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Medieval Latin gradualis, from Latin gradus

Noun

Middle English, from Medieval Latin graduale, from Latin gradus step; from its being sung on the steps of the altar

First Known Use

Adjective

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of gradual was

in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near gradual

gradocol membrane

gradual

gradualism

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“Gradual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gradual. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

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Kids Definition

gradual

adjective

grad·​u·​al

ˈgraj-(ə-)wəl,

ˈgraj-əl

1

: proceeding by steps or degrees

2

: moving or changing by slight degrees

gradually

adverb

gradualness

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gradual

Nglish: Translation of gradual for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of gradual for Arabic Speakers

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1 Mar 2024

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GRADUALLY Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

GRADUALLY Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

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Est. 1828

Thesaurus

Synonyms of gradually

as in slowly

as in slowly

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gradually

adverb

Definition of gradually

as in slowly

by small steps or amounts

gradually worked his way down the class roster add the sugar to the beaten egg whites gradually to make the meringue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

slowly

bit by bit

progressively

by degrees

inch by inch

little by little

piece by piece

increasingly

piecemeal

gradationally

imperceptibly

hierarchically

inchmeal

fractionally

crescively

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

suddenly

abruptly

sharply

steeply

acutely

hastily

precipitously

Thesaurus Entries Near gradually

gradual

gradually

graduate

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Chicago

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Merriam-Webster

“Gradually.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradually. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gradually

Nglish: Translation of gradually for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of gradually for Arabic Speakers

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GRADUALLY Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com

GRADUALLY Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com

GamesDaily CrosswordWord PuzzleWord FinderAll gamesFeaturedWord of the DaySynonym of the DayWord of the YearNew wordsLanguage storiesAll featuredPop cultureSlangEmojiMemesAcronymsGender and sexualityAll pop cultureWriting tipsGrammar Coach™Writing hubGrammar essentialsCommonly confusedAll writing tipsGamesFeaturedPop cultureWriting tipsgradually[ graj-oo-uh-lee ]show ipaSee synonyms for gradually on Thesaurus.comadverbby small degrees or little by little: The hurricane moved northwestward to northward for two days, gradually weakened to a depression, and then turned eastward.Over the following decades, the curriculum was gradually expanded, with additional offerings in history, government, languages, geology, and geography.Origin of gradually1gradual + -ly Other words from graduallyun·grad·u·al·ly, adverbWords Nearby graduallygradient windgradingradiometergradualgradualismgraduallygraduandgraduategraduatedgraduated cylindergraduate nurseDictionary.com Unabridged

Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024How to use gradually in a sentenceOver its first decade, however, this gradually changed, shifting from open derision to open celebration.Supernatural’s bonkers series finale marked the end of an era of fandom | Aja Romano | November 20, 2020 | VoxHis team’s model suggests that deaths could decline to about 88,000 simply by introducing a vaccine gradually, giving it to 10 percent of the population each month, and distributing it uniformly without prioritizing any groups.Who Should Get a Covid-19 Vaccine First? | Jill Neimark | November 20, 2020 | Singularity Hub A strengthening economy should gradually lift rates, boosting “net interest income”—the spread between what banks charge on home and credit card loans and what they pay in interest on deposits.The 21 best stocks to buy for 2021 | Anne Sraders | November 20, 2020 | FortuneHis team’s model suggests that deaths could decline to about 88,000 if a vaccine were introduced gradually, given to 10% of the population each month, and distributed uniformly without prioritizing any groups.Who should get a covid-19 vaccine first? | Niall Firth | November 20, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewAs you get stronger and your discomfort decreases, gradually increase the number of sets, capping it off at four.Strength Training for Lower-Back Pain | Lauren Bedosky | November 18, 2020 | Outside OnlineAs Sutton shows in his book, the important shift took place gradually, from the end of the Civil War until World War II.The Evangelical Apocalypse Is All Your Fault | Jay Michaelson | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Butterbrief, issued by Pope Innocent VIII, was a turning point for the then bland Stollen, which gradually became sweeter.One Cake to Rule Them All: How Stollen Stole Our Hearts | Molly Hannon | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the last few years, however, Spahn gradually began to notice changes in Ruby Pearl.Gay Talese on Charlie Manson’s Home on the Range | Gay Talese | October 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe email exchanges started out as cordial, if cold, but gradually grew more confrontational.The Kardashian Look-Alike Trolling for Assad | Noah Shachtman, Michael Kennedy | October 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe relationships between the characters have evolved almost organically, certainly gradually.Mike Leigh Is the Master Filmmaker Who Hates Hollywood | Nico Hines | October 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAfter about the forty-fifth year it becomes gradually less; after seventy-five years it is about one-half the amount given.A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddThe foster-father, who was an American resident in Hong-Kong, found his eyesight gradually failing him.The Philippine Islands | John ForemanThe cultivation of tobacco gradually spread from one State to another.Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.In like manner the mouth, from being a bare symbolic indication, gradually takes on form and likeness.Children's Ways | James SullyI thought we were in for an encore performance, but gradually the uproar died away, and by midnight all was quiet.Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonSee More ExamplesBrowse#aabbccddeeffgghhiijjkkllmmnnooppqqrrssttuuvvwwxxyyzzAboutCareersShopContact usAdvertise with usCookies, terms, & privacyDo not sell my infoFollow usGet the Word of the Day every day!Sign upBy clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.My account© 2024 Dictionary.com, LLC

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gradually adverb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

gradually adverb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

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Definition of gradually adverb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

gradually adverb   /ˈɡrædʒuəli/  /ˈɡrædʒuəli/

jump to other results

slowly, over a long period of timeto gradually increase/decreaseThe weather gradually improved.Gradually, the children began to understand.Women have gradually become more involved in the decision-making process.Oxford Collocations DictionaryGradually is used with these verbs: abandonabsorbaccumulate…See full entry

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

See gradually in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee gradually in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation:

gradually

Nearby words

gradualist adjective

gradualist noun

gradually adverb

graduate noun

The Graduate

boost

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Change, cause and effect

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gradually | meaning of gradually in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE

gradually | meaning of gradually in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE

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gradually From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgraduallygrad‧u‧a‧lly /ˈɡrædʒuəli/ ●●● S3 W3 adverb

 SLOWslowly, over a long period of time OPP suddenly

 Jill gradually became aware of an awful smell.

 Gradually, my ankle got better.► see thesaurus at slowlyExamples from the Corpusgradually• As the weeks passed, I gradually accepted the idea of him leaving.• The climate is gradually becoming drier and warmer.• Some patients experience a slow decline in their health as the effectiveness of the drugs gradually decreases.• Most patients gradually develop a resistance to the drug.• She gradually got sicker and sicker.• The first dilemma has been discussed: the managers gradually learned that their subordinates varied extensively in skill and motivation.• It began to slide toward the gradually opening door.• These cost reductions occurred gradually over a six-year period.• Then gradually twitches of life manifested themselves and it is now as well as can be expected.

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