gradate

UK: /ɡrəˈdeɪt/ US: (grā′dāt)

Inflections of 'gradate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

gradates

v 3rd person singular

gradating

v pres p

gradated

v past

gradated

v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

gra•date  (grā′dāt), v., -dat•ed, -dat•ing. 
v.i. 

1. to pass by gradual or imperceptible degrees, as one color into another.

v.t. 

2. to cause to gradate.
3. to arrange in grades.

• back formation from gradation 1745–55

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gradate / ɡrəˈdeɪt/ verb

1. to change or cause to change imperceptibly, as from one colour, tone, or degree to another
2. (transitive) to arrange in grades or ranks