gradually

UK: /ˈgrædʒuəli/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

grad•u•al /ˈgrædʒuəl/   adj. 

1. taking place, changing, moving, etc., by small degrees or little by little:
   showed gradual improvement.
2. rising or going down at an even, moderate inclination:
   a gradual slope.

grad•u•al•ly, adv. See -grad-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

grad•u•al  (graj′o̅o̅ əl), adj. 

1. taking place, changing, moving, etc., by small degrees or little by little:
   gradual improvement in health.
2. rising or descending at an even, moderate inclination:
   a gradual slope.

n. 

3. Religion [Eccles.] (often cap.)
   • an antiphon sung between the Epistle and the Gospel in the Eucharistic service.
   • a book containing the words and music of the parts of the liturgy that are sung by the choir.

• Medieval Latin graduālis pertaining to steps, graduāle the part of the service sung as the choir stood on the altar steps, equivalent. to Latin gradu(s) step, grade + -ālis -al¹
• late Middle English 1375–1425

grad′u•al•ly, adv. 
grad′u•al•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See slow. 
• 2. gentle.

Antonyms

• 1. sudden.
• 2. precipitous.